I know exactly where I was, and what I was doing.
Sitting in the home office, very early on the West coast, prepping for calls to the East.
First cuppa joe, and turned on the tube.
The first tower had been struck.
The horrible events that followed will always be burned in my memory, along with the rest of the world .
That was 9/11/01.
The reactions were brutal and pervasive, as we all tried to contact loved ones who may have been in the area, and wondered what would happen next.

On that day, our lives changed in so many ways.

Seven years later we should all remember that day. Historic events fade from memory as time marches on, and we are left with emotional touchpoints to trigger that feeling we had in the moment, lest we forget.

The power of the still photograph comes into play in memory of this tragic day. We may not need to see video tape of the planes brutally slamming into the buildings, or the Tsunami of smoke as they came crashing down.

I think the still images allow you to slowly remember the day. Not peacefully, but introspectively.

A book of photographs that celebrates the heroes of that day is from photographer Joe McNally and Life magazine, called Faces of Ground Zero:Portraits of the Heroes of September 11,2001

Sure you’ve read about Joe running around with a ton of speed lights and creating lighting magic on the run.
But I will always know him from this collection.
Having seen this life size exhibit in person, you can look into their eyes and sense from their stature the horrors they saw. Many of them first responders, or survivors. You should seek out this book.

From the publisher:
“In a studio just blocks away from Ground Zero, longtime LIFE photographer Joe McNally, architect of some of the largest photographic productions ever attempted in the magazine industry, created a stunning series of portraits of the heroes of Ground Zero. In that studio, is a one-of-a-kind Polaroid camera, measuring 12 feet long by 16 feet high. The color photographs it takes-larger than life, at four feet by nine feet framed-are unforgettable in their striking immediacy and clarity. Over the course of two weeks, approximately 200 people came before McNally’s lens: survivors, firemen, policemen, volunteers, doctors, nurses, widows, children. Not, in a dignified tribute to the heroes and victims of Ground Zero, 150 of McNally’s compelling portraits are collected together in Faces Of Ground Zero, including those from the acclaimed touring exhibit and several portraits seen here for the first time.
This book features a foreword by Rudolph Giuliani and includes an original essay by McNally on the historic Ground Zero project. A portion of the proceeds will go to charity.”
Joe McNally on his Set

Perhaps these heroic portraits will let you relive the day a little easier.
Just never forget the event. At least, take a few moments to remember.

For more digital information on 9/11, you can click here.

As much chatter about the store at the 9/11 Memorial Museum hits the web, they have a stack of these books there.

I like a good photo gadget as much as the next shooter, maybe even more. When Sony introduced the QX series of cameras meant to be attached to a smartphone, it was a huge seller. The ability to get better photos on your phone intrigued the masses. I was interested but was not ready for a purchase.
Here is the initial vid:

Right?taking the lens off for tight spaces, and using the phone as a monitor?

But phones have gotten better. In a lot of different ways.And Sony has stepped up the game.
The new series has a model to let you add different lenses. and shoot RAW. And a 20MP Exmor sensor.
Shutter speeds of 1/4000-39 secs. NFC is also on board, which should be on the new iPhone.
Video? you bet: 1920 x 1080 (29.97fps approx. 16Mbps)
Is this going to eat up all your memory, like my Hyperlapses are?
Nope,use a sweet Micro SD card.

You do have to go through the Sony app to upload your images to, the upload from, so no direct access to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Yes batteries,and an APS-C sensor.

Do you want one? Come November you can pay $400 and get one. Not sure if it’s quite the now classic NEX-6, but the feeling that they stripped away the body and left the essentials is strong.

Sony is listening to the consumer who wants to share high quality images fast. wait, not fast: NOW!

And now the official word:
Continue Reading »

Well, looks like an heir to the Vivian Maier collection of images has been found in France.
As the details get worked out for the legal rights for the treasure trove, sales of the prints and exhibitions proceeding are both in question. Check out this article in the New York Times.
It was always a strange part of the story as a purchase, ala storage wars, of a cache of negatives by a few people, resulted in the discovery of a fascinating street photographer, heretofore unknown.
The documentary by John Maloof, one of the purchasers, was not great film maker and left those of us curious, a bit unsatisfied.
As those involved started to sell the modern prints for about $2K, the frenzy continued.
What could the upshot be?
Well, if you have not bought a print yet, you may not be able to for awhile.
OR…you may end up paying a premium because all things that are forbidden cost more.

Every photographer locks onto a subject or 3 to shot whenever they have the opportunity.

This way, there is always an unspoken assignment and a method to the madness of shooting and not just a random scattershot approach.

Not that random is bad. But to help you hone your skills as photographer, shooting similar subjects with a purpose helps you get better, and , dare I say, focused.

Look, the guy who shoots Humans of New York knows he not that good, but he’ll get better as he keeps shooting similar subjects all the time.

If you are feeling stuck, or keep looking through the viewfinder hoping that a subject will jump out at you and touch your photographic soul, to no avail you are in luck.

The good folks at Aperture have gathered 307 assignments from noted photographers, which will easily give you the jump start you need, in one book The Photographer’s Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas
I love this book.
Each assignment is presented in easy to swallow , bite size , one page layouts, with very clear reasoning behind each one.
While sifting through, here was even one that suggested DON’T shoot and instead, curate. Interesting.
A great deal at about $20.00

True enough. What may look great on a tiny monitor or screen, may look like like you were shaking a martini when it hits a big screen.

Fine, not THAT bad , but not smooth. I’m looking at you GoPro! Although the mounts help keep the camera on task, there is so much more you could do.

I discovered the DSLRPro company who are distributing  a 3-Axis stabilizer for the GoPro 3 & 3+.

check this vid:

OK, I just bought one. In the days ahead, I’ll be working it out for reals, and see what we get.
The instructions are a bit slim, however, and I’m now going to see how the support is from the folks @ DSLRPro.
It does just what it should, according to the video, but I’m already finding nuances that will help in learning the best uses.
C’mon, gear is meant to be learned, not just plug and play like an iPhone. that way you get the best from it.

OK, Summer is kinda done, and very gear maker is coming out with new goodies and we’ll be letting you know what’s worth a look, or a financial consideration.

There are so many ways to learn photography, with the plethora of online schools making study at home a pretty easy choice to make.

You should want to learn from those who make their living at it, though, then you’ll get methods that truly “get the money”
Famed photographer Michael Muller, and Patrick Hoelck have joined forces to create PHOTOSCHOOL They bring you, currently, over 60 teaching vids, with subject ranging from Fundementals, Natural Lighting, Studio Lighting, and Photoshop teaching sessions with the retouchers these guys use to deliver their assignments.

How many of you have met with the retouchers you need to finalize your work? exactly. here they are.

There is true gold here, and if you want to improve your commercial photography game, you should start mining that gold now.

They have also brought in some of their friends to give even more expanded insight.
Estevan Oriol, and Brian Bowen Smith bring you anothr perspective with their unique visions. Gotta be honest, I went to Estevans site and may make a purchase or 2.

When I say the cool guys, what does that mean? It’s not the clothes, or the hair. Nope. It’s the vision that is current and consistent with each one. Their style that is in shown in the work, makes them the cool kids.

These are the people that are shooting the magazine covers and movie posters today. This is who you want to learn from.
After going through a variety of lessons, I will say that the production value is a bit rough. No question.
Did they shoot it with an Alexa? nope.
You may be saying “why am I learning from these guys who aren’t lighting the lessons like a Hollywood movie?”
Because we are lucky they are revealing their secrets and tools, for only $25. a month. That’s why.
How about the Triple Key Lighting? Yeah, you didn’t know about that. Either did I.
Now you are going to learn about that and a ton more, just in the Studio lighting section.

When I started in the business I was an assistant photographer, working in a commercial studio. Then I went to university and studied photography, film and fine art.
What I learned from a working pro, I still use today. These lessons have already been schooling me in a very good way.

AND with each lighting lesson, you get to see the final shots, usually multiple models, with the tech data.Plus, if you have questions about something within the lesson, they will respond by email.

Here’s what you get, from the site:
Interviews
A great place to start; Our teachers share their about experience learning photography, and how they turned it into a career. Topic also include their creative process’, with plenty do’s and dont’s along the way.
Fundamentals
Our guest teacher Brian Bowen Smith apprenticed for legendary Photographer Herb Ritts for many years and has become one of busiest celebrity photographers in the business. We are honored to have him kick things off with some fundamentals.
Natural Light
Shooting with natural / available light is the most important skill to master when learning photography. Learn these looks and you’ll be able to get a great look in any location.
Studio Lighting
Studio lighting is about having complete control. From a cheap strip of halogen lighting form the hardware store to 15 strobes in a studio, you are responsible for every highlight, shadow, and reflection in your models eyes.
Note: Occasionally you’ll see a light or two set up, but not in use – don’t worry – our teachers will point out every light they’re using in each lesson.
Photoshop
Photo processing and retouching is an enormous part of creating an image, and unfortunately Photoshop is the most miss-understood, and miss-used tool available to young photographers. Jess & Andi are Michale and Patrick’s Photoshop guru’s. In these lessons, they will show you the exact techniques they use daily for movie posers and magazine covers.

Check out the preview above, see if it’s right for you google these guys and check out their work.
I’m telling you though, no matter how you shoot, you are going to learn some valuable lessons, that you’ll never forget.
I already have.
Check out PhotoSchool.com

First posted this in May, 2009, Wyatt Neumann, photographer, has recently become a cause célèbre for his photographs of his children posted online. A loving, devoted,father, this series has become a polarizing discussion of artist rights.
But he’s a good photographer. Have a look at some of his work before the controversy.The Flickr link is working. Forget the madness.

We met this guy over cocktails in the south of France and knew from his incredible energy, he had a definite point of view of the world. A very intense one.
In the night heat of the June coast of the Riviera, you could easily sense that this photographer/director, was just about to burst out of his skin, in a good way. He was going to tell you things you may not have heard. Or wanted to hear. Some random, Hunter Thompson moment was probably not that far off in the future.

© Wyatt Neumann
And now, he’s told us about his intense love of life, and that perspective, through his first time exhibit of photographs called “Elephants and Boa Constrictors”.
Some of you may know the reference to “The Little Prince” from the first page of that classic childrens book by Antoine de Saint-Exupry.

© Wyatt Neumann

Now here is the thing about this show: it consisted of 427 photos printed 3.5″x3.5″ and hung linearly in random order. It was up for one night, only.
We missed it.
But now it lives on Flickr

We watched it in a slide show version from Flickr, which is what we recommend .

Darn it, got ahead of ourselves for a second. Where were we…..?

Oh right. The images.

© Wyatt Neumann

The imagery is of a world that Wyatt has traveled, seen, experienced, and shares with us, not in a Robert Frank way, but in what we imagine a Jack Keroac way would be. It’s a bit more personal, more poetic, and in your face, as the artist himself is.
There is no denying the intensity of the images, or the original. The people in his path across the US, and the constants in his life appear periodically through the random stream of images, which together, get you on a journey, very hand crafted by Mr. Neumann.

© Wyatt Neumann

The vignetting of each image, focuses your eye to the main story, and frames the subjects with a certain respect. Not a raw, harsh, reality yet still authentic and true.
And there are tender moments. The lighting belies those, as they become a respite, and help the viewer move through the series with a balanced life.
© Wyatt Neumann

Wyatt has brought his emotions to the surface here, and there is little between you and the image to buffer it.

Did the small print images get the viewer closer to review the images in person, to make it more intimate ?
Or does the slide show on Flickr give you time to breath in and experience each image on it’s own?
Your call, but it was a great use of our time to watch the random linear tales unfold on the screen.

It’s a rich trip you can take right from your desktop. Enjoy the ride.
And safe travels.

© Wyatt Neumann

Wyatt Neumann is represented by Click3X as a director, and The Safari Gallery for his fine art