(This is the first article from one of our reader/writers, Fred Bonilla)

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I became aware of Brian Finke and his work in several fronts. As a customer of mine at K&M Camera in Tribeca, we spoke of his choice of subject matters (bodybuilders, high school football players and cheerleaders and such) that reflected a different look at aspects of everyday life, as well as happy hour talk of film versus digital (he’s sticking with film for now.) and such.

Then, I noticed his work recently in a New Yorker article on a huge megachurch that is in the sleepy New England town I currently live in (New Milford, Ct.) So when heard of the release of his new book, Flight Attendants, and a gallery opening of work from the book at the ClampArt Gallery in Chelsea, I decided to check it out.

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The work at Clampart and in the book shows a whimsical yet respectful look at the lives and times of these servants we often neglect (expect when they forget to bring us a pillow). Brian devoted 2 ½ years and over 50 flights to accumulate this collection of images. While covering domestic attendants (Hooters Air is represented among others), Brian in the end went predominantly with international attendants from airlines like Cathay Pacific and Icelandic Air.

The results are vibrant, a bit humorous and yes, beautiful.

The book and exhibit have been well covered and reviewed in the press and on the web and reflects Brian’s status as an artist above the up and coming label. Yet as I read one reviewer calling these current set of photographs “banal”, I realized that some people just don’t get it. Whether the subject matter is flight attendants, football players or, in the case of a customer of mine’s new work, shoe repairmen (cobblers, for those who remember), seeing the profound beauty in the everyday is not only worthy, but can be a joy to behold. Check out Brian’s exhibit and his work to see what I mean.

Brian Finke: Flight Attendants
ClampArts Gallery,
531 West 25th Street, New York, N.Y.
February 21st –March 29th, 2008
Tel: 646-230-0020

The book is published by powerhouse Books, Brooklyn, N.Y.

For comments and correspondence, you can contact me at
Fredbonilla815@yahoo.com

After almost a year in existence, we have decided to get rid of the FORUM. With a daily need to prune and get rid of all of the pornographic spam, and no real entries in the photo categories, it’s time to use that digital real estate for something that we can all use.
But what is that?
We would love to hear your ideas. Tips and Teaching? Storefront? Photographer Spotlight?

And regarding the VIDEO we have on the site.
Heard from some of you on the better quality, but perhaps slower to load videos and it’s a split decision now.

Take a look around and let us know. We will always have the higher quality on the VIDEO page (which can also be enlarged) and as time passes everyone will have bigger digital pipes to get the stuff. It’s all going that way in our lives. Hey, when you can download an HD movie to your computer in 4 mins. that changes the game.

But perhaps if we are not there yet, we’ll make it easier for everyone and have both available on the site: Youtube on the Home page article and Flash on the VIDEO page.

Looking to all of you for some guidance here.
Take a moment and send an email to:damonw@photoinduced.com

Yep, that’s what Crumpler calls this camera bag. Always a cool name, always a great product.
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(gear pictured not included.)

When you don’t want your camera bag to look like a camera bag to the rest of the world.
That doesn’t mean that you aren’t getting excellent protection, functionality, and everything you want. Including cool factor.

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We are very happy to finally be offering a bag from this company. Cheers to them for supplying it.
And check out their entire line at Crumpler Bags. You know we always recommend taking your gear to a camera store and making sure the bag does what works for you. These bag are not around as much as they should be. Maybe ask your local folks to start carrying them if they don’t. Freedom of choice.
I think that’s why I have 5 different main bags.

Take at look at this video for more goods.

Congratulations to the winner of this past weeks giveaway: Dianne P. of Berkeley Lake, Georgia will be enjoying the extremely heavy volume of Annie Leibowitz’s latest book.

This is how you get the Crumpler bag for free: Continue Reading »

I know we’ve had a bit of a run of paparazzi material this past week. You see their work on the news and entertainment sites all of the time and, other than Britney Spears’ photog boyfriend, you really don’t know much about them.

Here is some time spent with Henry Flores, working paparazzi, co-owner of photo agency BuzzFoto. you’ll learn how he began, thoughts on his business, and some secrets of the trade.

Well, most of them anyway.
A book arrived the other day for review,Light and Lens: Photography In the Digital Age by Robert Hirsch , An appropriate title for a photography book, but such a wide open brief.
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A major surprise, as I’ve sat down with this book about 4 times in the past 2 days. It’s not the ADD, but the richness of the content.
And the range of coverage.
Rarely have we seen a book with multiple content listings, as wide as what we cover right here on photoinduced.
With a breakdown on historical methods, noted practitioners, sample assignments to help illustrate to the reader pertinent concepts ( imagine an assignment called “Filtering for emotional impact”), advent of digital, full easy to understand explanations of Photoshop tools and what it means to you, presentations, assignment advice, design discussions, brilliant samples by the best photographers today.

The writing style is not overly technical, but the topics covered are meant for the shooter who wants to learn more. And it should answer most of the questions you may have about photography in a condensed manner.
Continue Reading »