We have the pleasure of watching most of the DVD’s made of biographies of photographers. From the 10 min. quickie hits of the Contacts series to the PBS versions of insights into an artists life, such as the Contacts series
Our shelves are filled with a few hundred of these, as we collect what may be the last copies of these tributes and insights into a photographers life and mind.
Many were produced and released only on VHS never to be reprinted. We have a WeeGee doc that has some scenes where he directs himself and is pretty cheesy, but it’s all we have.

There is one company currently out there that has dedicated itself to producing some of the finest documentaries on photographers, we have ever seen.

Anthropy Arts

High quality production and extra features, make this series well worth your time and, quite honestly, the price of $40. USD is very reasonable.

For instance, in the Keith Carter doc, with over 140 minutes of material, you get a true sense of Mr. Carters work, plus you get an hours worth of commentary on his books and unpublished work. That part is kinda like when you put on the commentary on a DVD of a movie. We just did that with a DVD of Ferris Bueller, and director John Hughes spoke at each part of the film, which gave us another insight into the work.
As a bonus he’ll show you how he tints his photographs in a teaching/explanation section.

As you can hear, Keith Carter’s somewhat laid back style, is evident through the DVD and you get one of the most complete looks at a photographers work and thought process we have ever seen.

Here is a sample from the Dan Estabrook DVD:

A labor of love, no doubt, by John Spellos of Anthropy Arts, we encourage you to pick up his full series of DVD’s with only the 3rd in the series just being released now, on Debbie Fleming Caffery

Plus Anthropy Arts sells prints of these artists, including some of whom have yet to have a DVD produced, but we’ll feel that is coming.

They are thick, rich, and thoughtful works you should own. And if you are in a teaching mode, let your class enjoy, not only a great bio, but some practical lessons in the fine art of photography.

We applaud the work of this company, for producing the high quality documentaries of the masters of photography.
After screening so many examples of this genre, we know you will be very happy to spend some time with these DVD’s.
definitely going onto our photog gift lists.
Yep, we compile those through the year to make sure that when it’s time, we’ll be ready. For you, or as a list to give to someone.
Too soon?

When you hear about an actors passions other than what they are famous for, you may sometimes wonder: is it the fame that legitimizes the other endeavors? Or, in the case of Jessica Lange, can you look at her photographs and be fully objective on their merit ?

Quite honestly, we feel that there will never be a disassociation between the two.
Brad Pitt and Jeff Bridges more currently, and Gina Lollobrigida, Roddy McDowell (original Planet of the Apes), are all actors who proclaim their passion for photography, as in behind the camera.
Heck, even Harold Lloyd who was an A list silent movie actor, had a passion for 3D photography, and there are a few books, which we have give away here, attesting to that fact.
So what is it?
They have incredible access to behind the scenes of their films, as Jeff Bridges, famous for his panoramic cinema shots, gifts the cast and crew with books of photos from the experience. Or even Andy Summers, from the Police, who’s life- on-the-road-of-a-rock-star photos traveled extensively last year, complete with companion book.
Brad Pitt’s name came up in the world of photography recently, when his wife picked him up a Littman 45 for his birthday to feed his passion.
Gina Lollabrigida, a bombshell actress in the 60’s fought for respect as she transitioned into becoming a photojournalist. Roddy McDowell just released his 3rd book, containing only mobile phone photos.
Just scratching the surface here, of course.
Most photographers hate being in front of the camera. Imagine if that was all you did.

There must be a certain solace or reversal of control that occurs when an actor switches positions. The photography that most actors seem to take on, is the reportage segment, or the fine art.
A complete 180 from the sets and lights of their vocation.
Perhaps it becomes what fills the time on sets.
As one actor has said “I’m paid to wait, not to act”. And the waiting can open your mind to many things.
The solitary art of photography must appeal to those who are constantly surrounded.

How should a viewer react ? Separate the 2 entities? Experience the images simply for what they are and not who made them?

These are the kind of thoughts that came up as we visited the Rose Gallery in Santa Monica, for the Jessica Lange: 50 Photographs exhibit.

Who can forget this Oscar winning actresses performances, and her sheer beauty?
You can’t.

Photo at right © Jessica Lange

Her work has a design element inherent within the frame, with a classical tendency.
The 50 B & W silver prints have a grain structure depicting an era of a 30 year span, right before the digital age entered the photo world.
They are not like the humor of a Garry Winograd, nor the darkness of a Robert Frank, but a mostly delicately balanced tale told with a brilliant use of light. The feel of the prints are reminiscent of those photographers, though.

Although there are hints and shadows of Ms. Lange in some of the images, she is never overwhelming, but presenting a scenario.
Graphical elements frame a life that is not confrontational, while eliciting a story. A momentary one, and an observational one.
Rarely do you see a face up close in the throes of an emotional moment. These are quiet stories, with a preface and conclusion, you have to bring to the viewing.

Walking around the gallery, we picked up on our gut favorites, then went around around again.
It was a very calming experience.

Could we separate the body of work from the other life of the photographer?
Nope.

And the galleries and book publishers don’t want you to.
She is having an exhibit of her work, at the same time, at the prestigious George Eastman House in Rochester NYC and has received the very first George Eastman House Honors award.
When the award is given it will also kick off a film series of her work, to run simultaneously with the exhibit.
Every bit of press on her book talks about her work as an actress, her love life, and her early training in photography at college.
Not a ton about the work.
We ponder and query: Should the persona of the artist, influence the validity of the art?
It will of course, influence your experience of it, as it was intended.
At some point should it have a blind taste test to see if you feel the same if the artists name was unknown, then the “aha!” moment to reveal the celebrity behind it ?
Or is the curiosity of the talents of someone from another field, enough to boost the rating of the piece?
If Picasso draws on a napkin, but it’s crap, is it still massive because it’s freakin’ Picasso?
In some strange way, yes. It is human nature to associate.
You may not buy it or hang it on your wall, but you sure want to see it.
We did.
(Addendum: maybe the analogy is more like if you had a kinescope of Picasso’s rare appearance on Alfred Hitchcock presents, where he played the creepy guy in the cafe.)

What do you think? There are some links in this article that can help you look for her work, and you can buy her book, also.
We dig her work, for the work. In the 50 there are some great, iconic pieces, no matter who she is.
(the shot on the cover, for instance, has the dogs teeth just shining perfectly that you may miss on-line. In a print it’s incredible)
What other celebrities do you know of that are photographers? Would you pay more for an image if you know it was made by Brad Pitt?
Talk amongst yourselves, then let’s share with the group.

And you can order the book from our Amazon store, here.

oh, and Picasso was never really on Alfred Hitchcock Presents. But if he was, it would be like that.

Can we say they have the coolest camera gear website?
Sure, we can, Because they do. And the recent revise makes it easy for you to check out their products in all kinds of ways.
Now we’ve said it before: most photogs have a variety of camera bags based on the need of the shoot.
Stealth, travel, ready-to-go, bulk gear movement, and combos there of.
The Crumpler bag folks gained notoriety as a messenger bag company for the terminally hip, and have expanded the product line to take care of so many folks, while maintaining style. It has been said that if Lowepro is Microsoft, Crumpler is Apple. Not quite sure if that is true but….

We took the new 8 Million Dollar Home camera bag for a spin, and what better way than an actual shooting situation.
The first run was on our Scott Kelby Photowalk in Chinatown, LA.
Knowing it would be a lot of walking, heat of the summer, and gear in and out of the bag, comfort was the first key.
There would be a lot of equipment talk and sharing on the walk, so it was loaded right:
*Nikon D700 w/ 24-70 2.8 with hood
*80-200 2.8
*SB-800 Flash
*Canon SD780is point and shoot
*Hoodman Loupe
*Gorillapod SLR
*X-shot Extender
*Flip Video
*Card wallet
*Leather mini on a carribiner
*Xrite Color mini color chart
*GeoPic II GPS device
*Business cards in hard plastic 2in case
*Sunscreen
*Extra Batts for flash and camera

Yeah, sounds like a lot. The only thing missing was the Gary Fong diffuser, the Newton bracket, Epson P-5000, a Quantum Turbo batt, and of course, the second body. Which stayed in the car just in case. Just letting you know what is usually carried for a standard event.

All of this gear fit comfortably in the bag, and what we discovered were the cool non-velcro flaps that gave us easier access to bits, while still covering them.

Those we configured on either internal ends. The main camera sat in the middle and the soft surface of the dividers protected and supported the rig perfectly. The camera slipped in and out like butter, when needed.

A convenient loop for the leatherman, situated between the main cabin, and a front pocket, easily moved out of the way, when it had to.

The netted compartments helped us see what ever misc. bits we had added.

2 stealth pockets on the side were SO stealth, we couldn’t find a piece of gear we swore we packed. That’ll never happen again.

Outside straps on either end so you can loop,hook, tie whatever you may need to.

A removable strap support in case you, for some unknown reason, don’t want to use it.
And of course the incredibly strong velcro all about with the new Silencer mode: a piece of material covers the flap velcro so easy entry is available with a clip. No ripping velcro noise, so the birds don’t scatter.

Ok, that’s what it has, and that’s what we carried.

Here is the key though: It was comfortable for the whole day! with all of that gear (or kit) we had easy access, compartmentalized storage, soft protection for the gear, and when closed on the shoulder, a pretty cool look that didn’t scream camera bag.
Did we mention it was easy on the shoulder? oh, maybe.
After years of carrying camera bags, we know when it works and when it doesn’t. Keep that removable strap bit on though.

Sure, it’s a love fest, but we do have one small issue:
All of the pockets were as deep as the bag. It would have been helpful to have them split, so every reach into the pockets weren’t a full arm in.
A business card holder close to the top would have been preferred, instead of digging in.
Small, but useful corrections that would help you take full advantage of the capacity.

Overall a big thumbs up for the capacity and comfort, in a well built, stylish bag.

Here is a video we made at a trade show earlier this year:

OK, these guys at Nikon have been very, very busy.
We had the DSLR’s announced last week, and now this new line-up of Coolpix point and shoots.
And some pretty amazing cameras, with features we did not expect.

First up is the S1000pj, and the pj doesn’t stand for pajamas.

We were blown away when the Nikon dude pulled out a piece of white card and PROJECTED the snaps he had taken onto it.
Seriously.
After being at a birthday party last Saturday, how much fun would it have been to have projected the photos of the event at the last place we ended up?

Project up to 40 in. with a throw of between 10in and 6ft, 6 in. This is too cool.
Battery life is listed at 1 hour but I’d get an extra if you’re going to be doing a lot of this. And you should.
Or plug into the wall. But imagine a camping trip with some extra entertainment? No more crowding around an LCD screen.
Sweet.

6400 ISO max, 12.1 megapixels, 5 way stabilization system including motion detection that knows when an object is moving and auto adjusts the ISO and shutter speed.

Oh, did we say there is a remote control AND a camera stand? Plus slideshow effects?
And a new Smart Portrait system that has a skin softening feature that will keep the eyes and teeth sharp and soften the face.
Yep, we dig this one for sure. About $430 list price.USD

Next up is the S70, (don’t worry, it does come in black) which takes on a lot of the same specs, plus effects AND is a touch screen camera. Kinda like my iPhone. They pioneered this with the famous Ashton Kutcher camera, the S230 and have added megapixels, Smart Portrait system, OLED screen, HD Movies at 720P, and a whole lot more.
Big diff here is, like an iPhone, it is completely run by a touch screen. And it was smooth as silk when we used it. Or touched it.
Nice and thin, with no “sticky-outy” lens. Yes, that is a technical term.
To us, anyway. Just under $400 MSRP. USD

On down the line is the S640. Full-tilt boogie on the same spec features as the other models above, but this one has incredibly fast start up time 0.7 secs! Claims to be the worlds fastest, actually. 4 Stabilization features on this one. Coming in at $250. USD

To save you some dough, the S570 will give you everything you need in a slim package, plus that 28mm lens. Goes up to 3200 ISO, yet still has all of the same Smart Portrait features as the rest of the new line-up. But electronic stabilization instead of optical. about $200. USD

All four have 28mm lens equivalent at the widest. 12 – 12.2 megapixel range, Smart Portrait functions, stabilization features.
Now, we were only able to handle these cameras for a short time bit, and haven’t shot with them, but sometimes a good gut feel is worth it.

Here’s is our 2 cents after seeing these in the flesh:
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( At the end of the article we have a special 20% discount code for you if you’d like to go ahead and purchase one of these from the manufacturer. )

Thanks for the great response last week on the Gorillapod giveaway.
Heck, I just used one this weekend for a shoot to hold a flash where there was no place to attach it. Nor an assistant to hold it.
So this week, as promised we’re giving away ANOTHER one!
This time it’s the larger one, rated at 6.6 lbs.

The Gorillapod SLR ZOOM.

(Of course the camera and lens are NOT included in the giveaway. But you knew that)

We have also used this for our video B-roll work for awhile and have been very happy. (Check the previous article on the site to see the rig)

Plus it does have 2 thread sizes for your mounting choices. We know, it may seem like a small point…til you need it.

Remember to follow some of the tips we had in the previous article for most secure mounting, and also pick yourself up a nice ball head. Or take the one you have on your monopod and use it on this, like we did.

And we have to tell you about another one of our favorite Gorillapod items, perfect for use with the iPhone.
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