Our friends at Think Tank Photo just announced a special July offer whereby if you order one of their Speed Convertible hybrid shoulder bags/belt packs or a Change Up V2.0 you will receive your choice of a Little Stuff It! or a R U Hot? modular bag for free.

Their three Speed Convertibles—Speed Demon, Speed Freak, and Speed Racer—and the Change Up V2.0 are hybrid shoulder bags/belt packs designed for photographers who value versatile and ergonomic camera bags. The Speed Convertibles easily convert from a streamlined shoulder bag to a functional belt pack, have an integrated waist belt that “disappears” by tucking into zippered size pockets, has modular rails on the waist belt for adding Modular Rotation System components to increase gear capacity, and a flip-top lid that opens away from the body for rapid access to gear

Gear Profiles
Speed Demon V2.0: Carries a standard size DSLR with two to three small zoom or prime lenses
· Canon EOS 60D with 17-85 f4-5.6 IS attached (hood reversed) and 70-300 f4-5.6 IS beside
· Nikon D7000 with 35 f1.4 attached and 50 f1.4; 85 f1.4 beside

Speed Freak V2.0: Carries a standard size DSLR with two to three large zoom lenses
· Canon 5D Mk II with 24-70 f2.8 attached (hood reversed) and 70-200 f2.8 IS beside (hood reversed)
· Nikon D700 with 14-24 f2.8 attached and 70-200 f2.8 VR beside (hood reversed)

Speed Racer V2.0: Carries a pro size DSLR with two to three large zoom lenses
· Canon 1D Mk IV with 16-35 f2.8 attached (hood in position) and 50 f1.2; 85 f1.2 beside (hoods reversed)
· Nikon D3 with 24-70 f2.8 attached (hood in position) and 70-200 f2.8 VR beside (hood reversed)

Change Up V2.0: With the ability to carry a standard-size DSLR and a 70-200 2.8, (detached), it has a significant amount of capacity in a lightweight, body conforming shape. Alternately, it holds a standard-size DSLR with 24-70 2.8 attached, plus one to three additional lenses.

And while you are on the site. have a look at the Pixel Sunscreen V2. While you’re shooting outdoors, protect your laptop, and external drives. Fold into a nice small circle, like a reflector. No need to shade your eyes or rig some DIY shade.

This is the pro model.
And try combining it with a Tether Tools Aero Table

When you hit the location and have this set-up, you will be all set.
Get the right tools. Buy once. Enjoy for a lifetime.

It didn’t just happen yesterday. No doubt the decision came after much discussion.

This is an over 155 year photographic magazine. There is noting like holding a hard copy magazine or book in your hand. To see the layers of ink when the page is held at a certain angle, and the intense clarity when warranted by the photographer is it’s own joyful experience.

Time marches on. Kodak is bankrupt. The iPad is the tablet of choice for looking at visual materials, since the retina screen came about.

Heck, one of our other fave photo magazines, Aperture, went digital. Sure you have a choice, but now I have my own stack of mags on my tablet which is bare;y thicker that 2 stacked nickels.

And now this. The British Journal of Photography has added a digital version to their offerings.

The app is free (of course) and the Best of 2012 and Autumn 2011 are available for free.
Future issues have free previews.

There are a lot of photographic voices out there. We all, most likely, listen to a lot of them, for different reasons.

This pub was the first over 155 years ago. You’d serve yourself well to add them to your download list.
I am

He broke onto the scene briefly n 1955 when he was included in an exhibit at MOMA.
Then for about 40 years, the name Saul Leiter was fairly obscure from the photography world.
In recent years that has taken a 180º turn.
I first saw his work at Paris-Photo, a few years back at the Howard Greenberg Booth.

There was no mistaking the artistry.
He captured the streets of NY, through a non-confrontational lens. The palette appears to be Kodachrome, and as Paul Simon said, it gives you those nice bright colors.
But the rediscovery of this color work did have side affect: the classic film did age and the color did shift.
Now we can easily technicealy restore the original color but that muted palette seems to endorse the current passion of Mr. Leiter: Painting.

In his mid 90’s, the charming, fun loving (he signed my last copy of his book with pen and rubber stamps, smiling all the way),is not all that comfortable with all of this new fame and eschews the constant requests for interviews.

Which makes the new publication so special.

Roger Szmulewicz owns Fifty One Fine Art Photography Gallery, and has made 4 solo exhibitions of Saul Leiter’s work.
And like every good gallerist, they was a bond created and more importantly a trust with the artist.
For the most recent showing, Roger visited Mr. Leiter, and part of the meeting resulted in the new catalog, consisting of 34 previously unpublished photographs.
Hand picked by Mr. Leiter.

What i see is a further insight into the shooting style. His framing of the foreground bits to set the main subject in it’s own space,shows an observance, with out intrusion.
Reflections, and detail imagery, belie the coming painting media to his hands. There is particular winter scene, that straddles the line of photography and painting, as a man struggles against a swirling mass of white snow enveloping him in a curving wind.

© Saul Leiter: “Package”, 1960
You can and should order from:

FIFTY ONE FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY since 2000
ZIRKSTRAAT 20
2000 ANTWERPEN
BELGIUM
T:32-3-2898458
F:32-3-2898459
E-MAIL:roger@gallery51.com

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Saul Leiter: Here’s More. Why Not?

You’ve studied for years.
Tuned up your technical skills to a point, where showing the work publicly creates discussion about the content, not the paper its printed on.
At some point you chose a stylistic path.
Hopefully.
Now it’s time to hear from the pros and see how you stack up in the real world.
This is the life of the arts student at graduation.
Every year, I fly to San Francisco to review portfolios of primarily graduating students from the Academy of Art.

Every year brings a different crop of visions, that myself and the rest of the reviewers, have to be brutally honest with the folks behind those lenses.

I deal with the gut and perhaps the most important factor of the process: Curation.

The portfolios came at us 1 every :15 mins from 10:00AM to 4:00PM .

That first opening of the book, better hit us hard. Or engage us. Or scare us.
That high should continue for a few images before a shift can come in. The Middle of the book should have another stake in the ground. Power and style should lead us into the next ride of the collection.

I usually feel that there is a nether region after that middle image +3.

Perfect opportunity to take a breath or a deeper glide into the full body.

The hit strong.

Sorry, but sometimes the image I remember, is the last image.

Is this the only way it runs?
Nope. Just a starting point.

The hardest part of being the next big thing, or heck, just a working photographer, is to show how those strong influences from University, didn’t make you a clone.

Very tough.

From this last trip, the most impressive work came from a woman named Kristina
Varaksina. Check out her site for a full hit.
She calls her work photo narratives. Full disclosure, she is a former agency art director, who decided that full control was the best way.

Her portfolio ran a smooth guided tour. The opener, to the center stake to the finale,

very classic, almost Hurrell-esque

the viewer (or art buyer) will get a great idea of her concepting, narratives, fashion, light, and where her strengths are.

Apparently, they are many.

As I said, it was a day filled with talented photographers, being very brave and having essentially strangers look over their work and comment, even as they were moments away from graduating.

Fashion was a strong suit with a majority and there were students already shooting.

There were a few that had great concepts, but the execution was lacking.
The documentary category was less than informative, although they have one of the most passionate teachers you could imagine. And a former student to boot.

Tragic missed opportunity for some students. Maybe they had the inside track on the info about the Chicago Tribune laying off all of the staff photographers.

One of the most refreshing photographers I met was Jessica Rankin.
She. Nailed.It. Knew what she was passionate about. Photographed it so it showed.
Carved put a burgeoning career in her chosen category.

It’s hard enough for folks to know what they want to do.
To meet someone who seemed to know what her chosen path was, way before she got to school, was a happy moment that day.

It’s a long day, but I’m happy to have done it these past 10 years. As a long time collector, ad executive, reviewer, and shooter in my own right. Sharing whatever guidance in a short period, is a good thing.
I Hope.

Honorable mentions for Lauren Bayless and Bonnie Rae Mills

Sometimes we get all backed up with news we want to share. Many times we post on Facebook or Twitter.
Some of you may not follow us there.
I had a friend ask me if Photoinduced was still going since he only accessed it through the email blasts.
Figuring it all out.

So in the interest of time:

ThinkTank Photo has Gone Big and Gone Small
Our fave camera bag company had enough requests for updated hauling bags
Enter Logistics 30

Throw in your strobe heads, packs, bodies, lenses, cables, and if you are a good packer, some Nano lightstands, umbrellas, and reflector holders.

I’ve used a similar unit like this, and go in most gear needed for a location shoot. Keep your softboxes, tripod, etc. on the outside.

Sometimes one bag can be too heavy. Pack accordingly.

Then they went real small in answer to the burgeoning market of 4/3rd’s or mirrorless cameras.
I love this series. Walking in NYC with a good compliment of lenses in a small footprint bag, works like crazy.

The four sizes are:

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