tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40398712253589451972024-02-07T00:06:39.433-08:00DGPhotographicArtMentoring pictoralist in their pursuit to elevate the quality of their images and livesDavid Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-6087498673955229462016-12-31T13:15:00.005-08:002016-12-31T14:43:08.384-08:00Shooting DailyIn order to be good at something you must practice. I cannot tell you the number of hours spent swimming up and down the pool. Or the number of flip turns, starts and finishes I did so I could be better than the rest. It was engaged practice day in and
day out that propelled me to the top of swimming. So why would it be any different with photography?
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<div>Besides swimming, photography has been the only thing I felt I excelled in. I believe I had the eye for composition and the ability to pick subjects that most overlook. So when I was young I spent time taking photographs of everything I could, well as
long as I could afford it. See back in the days of my youth photography was of chemistry, film and paper. It was more intense but it was also more expensive so experimenting was limited by your finances and not your ideas. </div>
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<div>Now that digital has arrived other than the initial cost, digital photography cost almost nothing when it comes to experimenting. Instead of waiting until the next day to see if your images had come out, with digital you can see instantly. Then if the
image is not to your expectation then you make your changes and try again. So why wouldn't anyone spend the time practicing and learning to get it right in the camera?</div>
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<div>Well there is no reason in my life that should hold me back from taking photographs on a daily basis, but the reason I haven't is because I'm lazy which I will change this year. I started today by creating photos were texture compelled the image I captured.
I walked around looking for subjects of texture and I wasn't disappointed. I started with my neighbors fence and ended with a tree. Every image I created grabbed me but not all 40ish images survived the editing process and that was ok. Not everything
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<div>The first image I was attracted to the highlights of some golf the leaves against the darker decaying leaves. It reminds me of the underlying hope of what could happen among the decay that surrounds us. </div>
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<div>The second image was really not about texture but the lack of it. Sometimes it is the negative space or the subtraction of light that gives the image it's power. For me that is what this is about. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">The last is about the texture of the metal lock against the weathering of the wood it is attached to. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">My goal is to do create photos daily and if they are interesting enough I will post them from time to time. My mission is not to create masterpieces each time I take a picture but to be able to see and create a photograph better on the projects I
am putting my energy into. To be a master of my craft I should practice, don't you think? </div>
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</blockquote>David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-26946954329515860032015-05-26T00:00:00.000-07:002015-05-26T00:00:06.271-07:00Taking Invantory <span id="docs-internal-guid-cb390cef-8891-28ea-49ad-bf116bd392ee"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently I have been moved to build a portfolio of my work and put it out online. I have always wanted to start one but only upon completion of a project with the idea that commerce is incorporated to the website. After the “Art In The Park” show as well as events in my professional life, I looked for somewhere to host a free portfolio site. I need to get my work out there and let people see it and maybe get some work out of it. I need to get out of my quagmire that is my career and move out to the real world where real money is made.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I found a host for my photography that is free and has a professional look and feel of someone who knows their craft. Now came the time to put my work out there and that is when I realized I did not have a real commercial look to my work. A lot of art photography like my iphone work but nothing of commercial work to speak of. How disappointing, I want and need to put my work out there and I have been shooting a large quantity but the variety is not there. So now what do you do? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well first you don’t put yourself in this situation like I have. I think it is easy for a photographer. Like myself, to be so focused on a project or subject that they lose sight of the bigger picture, which is variety. I wanted to be able to present at least three types of photography I can do. First one is portraits; not the typical run of the mill, but something with grunge to a stoic look to it. Maybe some with a stock look to it. Second was my architecture work which I now realize I have only two photos that deserve the light of day. The third is going to be food. I have nothing to show for this category yet but this year I was going to work on it. Then I was thinking of my projects like the iPhone work, City and Landscapes not to mention I have a blog element I can exploit on this site. Yea after looking over my work, I have nothing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I point I am trying to make it that if you’re goal is to be a professional, and I mean one who drives most if not all their income from creating photographs, then you must find at least three photographic interests. For the portrait photographer this could be Weddings, Seniors and Families. For me it is Portraits, Architecture, and Food which I have not spent a lot of time doing. I have lost sight of this and instead creating photographs with my iPhone. Now I must create photographic situations that will build my portfolio and give me the presents I need to get the jobs I would like. This means a lot of horse trading and bartering for opportunities to shoot. I have to say I think I have a good hand full of ideas and people to talk to but they might not pan out completely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is my plan of attack. In order to get me out of this situation I must shoot like a mad man. I know I will not achieve a complete body of work over night, in a month or even by the end of the year but I must get shooting. My goal is to spend time shooting two things at the same time. I think I will be doing portrait work first along with architecture work. I figure as long as the weather is warm I can shoot all the buildings that move me then when the cold forces me in I will start on food. As my images grow I will add and change them around to keep things fresh. By the end of August I hope to have enough to show and start pumping the site. I think that will get me going fast but it will be a lot of work. I just hope I can keep it up. </span></div>
</span>David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-73388812991995001942015-05-02T12:14:00.000-07:002015-05-02T12:14:09.966-07:00First ShotLast Saturday I went out and picked up a book called "Food Photography; From Snapshots to Great Shots" by Nicole S. Young. Now I did not randomly pick a food photographer to buy a book from but instead I had been following her work for sometime. I love the natural look of the light, food and what surrounds it. When I decided that I would try food photography it was an easy decision to find her book and pick it up. Right now I am half way through it but when I finish I will blog on what I thought of the book. So far I love it. <div>
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Today was a taco breakfast day. My wife works a third shift so her dinner is my breakfast. She had been looking forward to this for three days so I wasn't going to disappoint her. Because it was so early my mind was not in the mode of photography. But when I finished putting my two delicious tacos together I could not help but take a photograph. At this point in the book I had just passed the part on lighting so I was eager to try a quick shot. I did not want to pull the camera out so I used my iPhone. I used two windows; the main light was a north facing window and the fill was an eastern window. It was early so the sun was shining in on the east but not directly on the food. The north light back lit the food so well and the eastern light filled in perfectly and helped with creating the texture I was looking for. I took 5 or so photographs in the square format and then processed them using Filterstorm and Snapseed. This was the best of the 5. Apart from the stylizing I think it came out great for a first attempt. </div>
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The next section I am working on is food stylizing. This section and work is one I think I may be working a lot with. The problem is that I know what looks good but not sure how to create it. It is similar to when I learned to ballroom dance. I know the steps to the waltz or tango but to freestyle it, making it look good and fun for my wife? That is a struggle. I guess I will have to try and see. Luckily I have a lot of cook books to look over and help me along the way. </div>
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My plan for this new skill is to plan a meal once a week so I can shoot it. This way I can get the ingredient and garnishes that day and they will look fresh for the photograph. I plan to keep it simple with the food stylizing and do the best with the background stuff. You know the bowls, silverware, glasses and the rest. I don't have much of a budget and will have to slowly pick stuff up. As I do start this I will blog about it. This way I can keep a record of what worked and what didn't, where I pick up stuff, while trying to keep the one or two people entertained. </div>
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There you have it, my first photo officially of my food photography. I am sure it will get better. </div>
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-20973201585601733482015-02-28T12:07:00.000-08:002015-02-28T12:07:13.228-08:00The Project NextIf you have not checked out my<a href="http://ninetyninetyninety.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> 90 day</a> photographic project by now please do so, but until then I am planning a new project. This project is one that will take a longer set time and will incorporate the use of my bike, specifically the mountain bike. It is one that I had been contemplating for a while but felt that I could not accomplish it but after completing the ninety day project I think I can pull this one off. My project is to take photographs of Iowa off the back of my bike, sorta.<br />
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Right now I need to fix the bike up, to do what is an equivalent transmission change for it. Then when spring, summer and fall are in swing I will take short rides around the county scouting and shooting the landscape. I plan to use my Nikon, iPhone, and a panoramic style Vivatar 35mm film camera. I believe that 2 or 3 years will be long enough to shoot enough photographs for a show or a book or maybe both. <br />
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My goal is to capture Iowa and why I love to live in this state. I know that it doesn't have mountains or great canyons but the landscape and all that it is in it are worthy of capturing and preserving it. I plan to do it in black and white but I maybe open to either throw a few color ones in the mix or have them with a side project. As I am photographing the landscape, towns and people I plan to write about on the blog and eventually incorporate them in a show and or book.<br />
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So for now I will start off with this photograph I did this morning. Because the temps were as low as -13 degrees the steam off the river created a fog in and around Mays Island in downtown Cedar Rapids. These were taken with my iPhone and processed in Lightroom and PhotoShop.<br />
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My next step is fixing the bike which I will document in this blog. It is all part of the story so why not include it.<br />
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<br />David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-36847587829590577292015-02-25T18:51:00.000-08:002015-02-25T18:51:18.643-08:00My Food Adventure So I have been thinking about what I could do with my photography that would replace my current job. I could do just my "Art" and try to scrape by but we all know the saying; "A Starving Artist." I like the thought of architecture but right now it is a little cold and snowy so maybe not a good time to start. So what about food, food photography? That could be good.<br />
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Earlier this year I looked at the local restaurant's website and for the most part the food looks poor. It looks like food but it doesn't appetizing. I think I could do better but until I try I will not be sure. After six or seven websites I thought I would see if there were any food photographers in the area. Too my surprise I did not find any that specialize or dabbled in food photography. I find that a plus.<br />
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This past week I set up a spot in the basement and began to shoot. Now my goal right now is to come up with lighting setups that look good so food stylizing is not impotent. I have shot two subjects and I feel that both came out very well. A little still life like but again I am interested in lighting and creating common looks for food. I figure as I get more comfortable with the process then I can invent more with lighting. So here are the three photos so far.<br />
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I am planing to post a lot about my food photos and my other project that incorporates my bike. My goal is to tell stories and show photos and keep the technical stuff down. It isn't that I don't want to share information, I would be happy to answer questions, but I really want to talk more to the stories.<br />
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So after a long absents from this blog I am back and looking to show off some new stuff.David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-81511954711047580672014-03-31T00:00:00.000-07:002014-03-31T00:00:10.460-07:00Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was the first day I explored area 1
which is the first pull in spot on Amana Road. After putting on boots I walked
down the small hill and in to the grass plan. The open area is mainly grass but
as you go towards the river you run into colored branches growing out of the
grass bed. As I moved close to the river the flatten grass becomes wet and bog
like, good thing I put on boots. I moved west along the bank crossing soft bog
like grass until I found a muddy gap to cross. There was a bit of trepidation
that passed through my mind but I went for it anyway. About half way through the crossing I lost my balance
only to catch myself with my hands, which in the left one was my camera. I
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I arrived on the bank and waited for the birds to calm down.
Most of the birds I saw were Ring Billed Gulls which were easily spooked unlike
the Sea Gulls that mob us if we have food around. Their body is predominantly
white with grey wings tipped in black. Eyes yellow as well as the bill that has
a black ring around the front portion. With my 500mm I got many shots but only
a few I believe were worth the trek across the mud. I placed my camera in the
bag and made my way back only to lose my balance once more. The mud wanted to
keep my boots but I found if I open the hole my boot made by tipping my foot
forward, I was able to extract my boot easier. By the time I reached solid
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<br />
<br />
I spied birds about a mile or so east, which with the amount
of mud I had on each boot, this could be fruitful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdFKWj1LgBsgKZYxgVME0hgBLncOiUAncQvCQAxPGmaZs8v82GADakK7JocrUJCOW8uq7B9w6DBrHgTr53vdnaqDYKBEbtxt9bMSBhMFCA_SB7hx0kHMlwcCcfGmGKoVkiNAumIkf09Q/s1600/DSC_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdFKWj1LgBsgKZYxgVME0hgBLncOiUAncQvCQAxPGmaZs8v82GADakK7JocrUJCOW8uq7B9w6DBrHgTr53vdnaqDYKBEbtxt9bMSBhMFCA_SB7hx0kHMlwcCcfGmGKoVkiNAumIkf09Q/s1600/DSC_0052.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
As I moved along I came
across scat that could be<br />
coyote. I am not a biologist so I am not completely
certain of this but the scat was the size of my dog’s poop. I made my way to my target area trying to not
spook the birds but to no avail. I must work on this skill or I will never get
a great close shot. Jim makes it look so easy. As I drew closer I stumbled upon
a mallard decoy stuck butt first in the mud. I pulled it out and laid it out
for the rising waters to take with it. Maybe it will be a friend to a lonely duck
someday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQZeHhDA0MItGpsS9rYERKUunVGCb9NTS1JnCw05WPPhJlc5_TL6XufPvhbNgds8vwBtd6xyuHy7vclSi-yX8u_lNa8YTG49ztmOkJVoxZZLdcXiMLtqitEiICb4E9KZ8ykcUP9huNsE/s1600/DSC_0079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQZeHhDA0MItGpsS9rYERKUunVGCb9NTS1JnCw05WPPhJlc5_TL6XufPvhbNgds8vwBtd6xyuHy7vclSi-yX8u_lNa8YTG49ztmOkJVoxZZLdcXiMLtqitEiICb4E9KZ8ykcUP9huNsE/s1600/DSC_0079.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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I finely arrived at a spot that was mostly dry and sat for a
spell. Most of the gulls had moved on but a few hung around at somewhat of a
distance. I waited to see if some of them would return to a closer position and
in that wait I saw a flock of American White Pelican flying over head. Mostly
white with black on the back half of the wings they flew south against the
strong wind. A few flew close but moved slowly on and for a while I thought I
had missed out. After 20 minutes passed I noticed another group of same kind of
Pelicans flying over. They were closer and bunched up closer together in
formation which lend to some great group shots. Once they passed one more group
came over once again or I think it was another group but who cares it was
another chance to get more shots. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the fly over I decided that the gulls were not coming
and it was time to move on. Almost 3 hours has</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLYnHRWztl6Al8hqMA3CxxcwJiD2ROfxoPjLh9BUW7S0cRDJRB_XNewggWyxv6QkP1sm_QqfLt8fHQ5W9d6-ccgdI_ZkhLwXe88Bibo8YfiZhXZfBQ6eDkAkzqT6a0SDCeQGlY8-RUoY/s1600/DSC_0112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLYnHRWztl6Al8hqMA3CxxcwJiD2ROfxoPjLh9BUW7S0cRDJRB_XNewggWyxv6QkP1sm_QqfLt8fHQ5W9d6-ccgdI_ZkhLwXe88Bibo8YfiZhXZfBQ6eDkAkzqT6a0SDCeQGlY8-RUoY/s1600/DSC_0112.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
passed since my arrival and I
had shot over 100 frames. Half way to my car I noticed how the sun lit up an
area of small tree like stems. Some of them were red and some yellow and
against the blue sky it created something I hadn’t seen before. As I moved to
get the shot I noticed the skeletal remains of a large fish probably eat by coyote
due to the lack of trees nearby for birds of prey to eat on. A few shots of the carnal mess and back to my
landscape I originally set out to photograph. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
By now thin wispy clouds were forming in the sky and with
the red of the twigs I could not ask for a better set up for this time of day.
I made several exposures with the sky being in the majority of the frame
leaving the land in the bottom quarter portion. Once I was satisfied with the
shot I packed up and headed to the car. It was a long enough day and I wanted
to get back to see what I really had. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FnMZq-24vKOlCyVImYQxgYhjLZI3H2go6Il6u7JwnBqa7hBvS7hGSYEcGuUyfWjZm0VeIj7NdgAoZx4hH_DDglWc4AqrfIYXBDkPAyaRGnzAccdHJex6Uu3WBlnLmcbX0Z4yC8yEZjA/s1600/DSC_0118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FnMZq-24vKOlCyVImYQxgYhjLZI3H2go6Il6u7JwnBqa7hBvS7hGSYEcGuUyfWjZm0VeIj7NdgAoZx4hH_DDglWc4AqrfIYXBDkPAyaRGnzAccdHJex6Uu3WBlnLmcbX0Z4yC8yEZjA/s1600/DSC_0118.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not done with this area and will most likely go down
there at twilight to take more photos. Not sure if this area lends itself to
long exposure black and white shots but with further exploration I may find something
yet. This place has a hold on my attention. </div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-236846524930806622014-03-19T00:00:00.000-07:002014-03-19T04:27:27.819-07:00Does it pay anymore?<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not sure if anyone caught this report on ABC News
during a segment called <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2014/03/your-smartphone-photos-could-make-you-instant-money/" target="_blank"><b>Real Money</b></a> aired on March 5<sup>th</sup> 2014, but I
did. The segment is on how to make money with your smart phone photos you have
taken. You don’t need to be a professional photographer if you sign up with
<a href="https://www.foap.com/?gclid=CIbo5cG1_LwCFSXl7AodYXEAbw" target="_blank"><b>Foap</b></a> and sell your photographs to Corporate America who is dying to underpay
you for the photos you shoot. Yes because of the amount of images being
uploaded on to the web it seems to be easier to pay pennies to the dollar for
someone’s snap shot rather than pay a pro to make a great image. Sorry I know I
am sounding a bit negative but I am just a little frustrated at where the
photographic industry is heading. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s look at the big picture as it stands today. At no time
in history since the introduction of the Eastman Kodak’s Brownie Camera has
photography been obtainable to the masses. We have cameras everywhere and we constantly
take and upload snapshots to the web. Unlike the Brownie, we can see the
photograph instantly and decide whether to delete and take it again or keep it.
Because there are so many images out there everyone fancies themselves as a
photographer. They can shoot anything, portraits, landscapes, weddings whatever
people want for either really cheap or free. This is starting to and will kill
the professional photography industry. No there will be a need for real pros
out there but the amount of money for the real pros will get smaller and
smaller until it will not pay to be one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right now if you are a professional photographer (where you
drive most or all of your income from photography) you are most likely supplementing
your income with classes or educational material. That was not heard of 15 years
ago. And there is nothing wrong with having an education element in your business
model but that aspect is starting to get saturated and then what? Unless you can draw on a large cliental for
your living, the education aspect will dry up and you are going to have to come
up with something different. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of professional photography, I would have to say I
am one. All of my income comes from taking photographs of clothing for a
(remain nameless) online store. Not to complain but I don’t make a whole hell
of a lot. It is in the ballpark of a better part of a starting wage. But that
is the point. The person believes that what they are paying is what that job is
worth. Yes it helps them sell the item, yes the photos are the first thing they
look at, but they believe that anyone can do it. In fact they set it up so that
anyone can do it. It is just that easy to do so. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what is the solution? I am not sure but the path
professional photography is taking is the same path graphic design has been on.
The mentality of most people is if I can push a button, throw it through some
effects and have it turn out good, they why pay a professional? Corprate
America is on that road, the regular consumer has been going down that path for
awhile now. If someone told me that they wanted to be a professional
photographer I would tell them this; get a business major or marketing major,
hell any major that works with data or microbiology. Do that and shoot on the
side for fun because there is not a lot of money out there to make a living. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Something will have to change. We must show value to the
images created. The path of photography has to change direction or it will not
pay to take photographs. Read the
article, watch the clip and tell me that I am wrong. I would like to be
convinced I am wrong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-71983848798657554522014-03-17T00:00:00.000-07:002014-03-17T04:16:29.689-07:00Squarespace<div class="MsoNormal">
I started with Squarespace because I have been interested in
using them for my hosting for a long time. I just never had the money to do it.
It seems that most of the photographers I listen to on podcast seem to like
their Squarespace site. And knowing that some of them are being sponsored by
Squarespace I believe that they would not take the money if they did not
believe in the product. Well I am hoping that is the case for the most part. So
Squarespace had some name recognition with well known photographers, let’s see
what else they have. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Templates: </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you select the template from the menu you are brought
over to a selection of templates to choose from. On this page they have them in
selections of “Business, Portfolios, Stories, Restaurants, and Personal.” For
myself, I chose Portfolios and nine templates of the twenty six remain on the
screen to choose from. All nine are very clean and easy on the eye to look at.
Click on one that strikes your fancy and you are in another screen of
portfolios using that template. In the template that caught my eye there were
twenty four examples of customer’s websites using that template. On the top of
the page you can click on and see an example of how that template will look on
a mobile device or a live view on screen. Because mobile is the trend of how
people consume their internet, how it will look on a smart phone is important
to me. Going back to the selection of templates from customers, you are able to
click on one and explore their site without actually opening a new tab. All
features of their site are operational which is great because you can see how
they organized their work using the template that you like.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Templates have Blogs:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The template that I had selected has a blog feature and for
most like me I believe that is important. The blog gives you the ability to
create postings about the projects you are doing, shoots your doing and events
your attending. Blogs let potential clients and followers know the human side
of you and what you feel is important in your life. I like to use it to bring
knowledge, talk about projects or the things that bug me. So I am excited to
see this part included with the website. It bothers me to be shuffled off to
other links to read or see work the photographer has. Keep them all in one
spot. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Social Networks:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being socially connected is important in order to be seen.
With Squarespace not only can you link to your pages but update to your pages
as you update your site. No more copy and paste to each of your social network
pages just one touch and you can update them all according to their feature
page. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Commerce:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It appears you can sell in the U.S, U.K, and Canada but in
beta are Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Spain. When
you sign up Stripe gives you instant approval so you can receive your earnings
via direct deposit. Stripe charges a 2.9% + 30 cent transaction fee which to me
doesn’t sound like too much. You can sell both digital and physical goods on
one page. Digital downloads are delivered by email links and expire in 24 hrs.
Depending on what plan you are using you are able to sell one item only on the
Personal Plan, twenty items with the Professional Pan or unlimited items on the
Business Plan. If you are looking to set up Donations there is a way to set up
a page for that. There is a lot more to go into but to be honest I am not sure
how it all fits into what I want to do. I know that I will have to keep records
of my sales and with the Xero Intergration you can do that. There is data
collected for marketing and social integration about your store to your social
pages. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>SEO:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Search Engine Optimization. According to the site there is
no plug-ins that is necessary. Squarespace has multiple ways of getting your
website easily found through the major search engines. By creating clean HTML
mark ups, Canonical Tagging, Automatic Tagging and more they are helping you
get out there and be discovered. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Analytics: </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In order to understand who the people are visiting your site
you need to know here they are coming from. Website Analytics helps you
understand just that. According to Squarespace they monitor you site for page
views, including raw, unique and robot hits. All web stats are computed every
few minutes giving you real time numbers. They also let you know the keywords
that sent them there, what content held them there and what platform they are
using. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Price: </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The big question; how much will this cost me? Well there are
3 plans, Personal, Professional, and Business plan. Each plan offering a group
of core services like free custom domain, e-commerce, the site and storage and
a monthly charge if you rather pay for the site that way. But as you go up in
price so does all the goodies that come with it. For the most part the cost is
not as high as some webhosting sites I have seen but it is not the cheapest
either. To me with all they offer it seems to be a fair price for what you get.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Personal plan</b> runs eight dollars a month (billed annually or
ten dollars month to month). With that you get twenty pages, galleries and
blogs with five hundred GB bandwidth along with two GB of storage and two
contributors. Contributors are others that can access your account. Fully integrated e-commerce selling one
product and accept donations. Mobile website and store, custom domain and
twenty-four seven customer support. To be honest this sounds like a great pan
for the price if you are looking for a gallery site only which is not what I am
looking for.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Professional plan</b> runs sixteen dollars a month (billed
annually or twenty dollars month to month). That plan gets you unlimited pages,
galleries ,blogs, storage, bandwidth and contributors. Fully integrated
e-commerce with twenty items you can sell, developer platform, Mobile site and
store, free custom domain and customer service. This is a plan I think I like,
in my budget and I can sell more than just one thing. I will most likely go
with this plan if I chose Squarespace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Business Plan</b> is twenty-four a month (billed annually or
thirty dollars month to month). You get
unlimited galleries ,blogs, storage, bandwidth and contributors. Fully
integrated e-commerce, unlimited products, Real-time carrier shipping, label
printing via shipstation, integrated accounting. Developer platform, mobile
website and store, free custom domain and customer support. Although this plan
would be the best I am not sure it is within my budget now but if I end up
selling enough then I can upgrade to this plan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So far this space looks good but I do have a lot to learn
about websites and all that go with it. Right now everything looks great and
confusing at the same time. I still need to look at SumgMug and compare the
services and price to Squarespace. When I do pick one I guess that is when the
real learning begins and I will know if I pick the right one or not. I just
have to compare, make the choice and get my work out there. </div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-91621000009537898212014-03-03T00:00:00.000-08:002014-03-03T00:00:03.360-08:00Looking for a Website Host<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that I have a little birthday money and some put a side
I am looking for a website to host my webpage. I had a free one a long time ago
but it did nothing for me. One down fall was the fact the templates for
photography did not look very professional and I think that turned off a lot of
potential customers. To be fair I did not invest a lot of time or energy in it
therefore it I got nothing in return. But if you want to get noticed and more
to the point, make some money you need a website. Oh and you have to work on it
as well as on your social networks. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a lot of website hosts out there that I could
choose from but I have narrowed it down to two sites. The first is Square Space
and the second is Smug Mug. Both are popular and have been around for quite
some time, but which one to choose? Deciding on which one to go with has been
the problem rattling in my head for too long. So I have written down what I am
looking for in a webhost and with that I will compare the two sites based on
that. Whichever one fits my needs the best I will go with. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So why am I telling you this? Why don’t I just go out,
compare and buy a website and announce the web address on my blog? Well I can’t
be the only one who is paralyzed by the myriad of choices out there. So as I investigate
each site and write about it, I am hoping to help others out who are in the
same boat as I am. This is a sort of a ride along to either a great outcome or
a spectacular crash that will benefit you, the reader, in what to or not to do.
I am your crash test dummy and I am ready to take a fall that either I live or
die in. On with the list and note the categories are not listed in order of
most to least important.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Professional Looking
Templates;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My last free website was ok but because I did not have
professional looking templates to choose from I believed I lost more customers
than gained. What I am looking for are clean and simple templates that are easy
on the eyes as well as easy to find your way through the site. One thing you
cannot have is the viewer thinking hard on how to get around your site. You get
one look and if it is not eye catching or too hard to navigate through to the
next pages they will move on. I know I do. Also I am not looking to create a
flash movie or add music to the site. I find that when it takes time to load I
tend to move on to the next photographers website. Keep it simple, be eye
catching and don’t make them think too hard. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Being able to Blog;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe that blogging is important so that I can let you
into my little world. To tell the story of what my work is about and get feedback
from you as the audience. So it is vital for me that I can either create a blog
as one of the pages or link my site to my blog. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Social Networking;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s face it, without being able to link your social
network to your web and vise versa you can’t drive traffic around to the
website or out to the posts you place. For the most part the two I have in mind
do place social networking buttons on the site. What I am looking into are the
ascetics and ease of placement it has for my audience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Upgrading;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How easy is it to upgrade or downgrade my site? I need to be
able to grow the site to handle any additional commerce that I may get. As well
as downgrade incase after a year my site sucks and I make nothing. In that
event I will still keep the site but in only gallery form because that should
be the least you should have to direct people to see your work. A flicker
account is really not professional enough. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Commerce;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How easy is it to use the commerce part of the site for
myself and my customers? I need a site that I don’t have to think too hard to
set up. That I can use and when someone buys something I can get paid. I also
want to control the price of items and offer discounts. I want to offer a
gallery page that requires a special invitation to see and purchase from. Is
that possible? I am looking for price points for commerce items. How much do I have
to spend in order to get these types of amenities? </div>
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<b>Customer Service;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I want an easy way to contact customer service if I have a
question and get a quick and understandable response. Not that I am worried
that my customer service comes from India but the answer I get is not so far
above my head that I am not able to rectifying the problem. Be there when I
need them and to advise me on ideas I may have. </div>
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<b>Great Analytics;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I am not a rocket scientist nor did I go to school in
marketing. I am an Art Major with the inability to comprehend advance statical
information. I am willing to meet half way and learn as much as I can but I don’t
have the funds to take a Stat Class. So the Analytics must be simple and to the
point. I need to have the information in a simple format so that I can act on
it as I see fit. </div>
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<b>Storage;</b></div>
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One thing I don’t have a lot of at my house is storage for
my digital files. At this time I burn my files to disk. So part of the service
I will need to be storage of my best work on the site. I need it to be safe and
downloadable when I need it. As I make money I will start looking for a better
solution to the storage situation because I know it is just a matter of time
before something bad happens. Then I will be shit out of luck. </div>
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<b>Cost;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I have to balance affordability with service. If money was
no object I would have someone build it for me but because I have a budget I
need to get the most for what I can pay. </div>
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<b>Membership Benefits;<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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By being a part of this webhosting group I am looking for
helpful information in order to be more successful in my business. I am looking
for tips, education on the market place, and information on people who are successful
in areas in or outside of photography. A really good webhosting company wants
to be successful, grow and make more money. The only way to do that is have their
clients grow and make more money. A symbiotic relationship that is vital in
order to succeed in the business world. </div>
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I am sure this foray into the world of webhosting will open be
eye opening. I will learn more about it and what is possible to do as I dig
into the nuts and bolts of it all, and my hope is you will too. In the next
post I will be breaking down each webhosting site in the categories I have
listed. Then the last post I will give my decision on which site I chose and
why. Until then Shoot well and Shoot often. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-21028240806042559132014-02-28T00:00:00.000-08:002014-02-28T00:00:05.912-08:00Chris Jordan<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris’s work is unique in that the idea is not to create
some stunning landscape or beautiful portrait. No he creates photographs out of
the objects, sometimes garbage that illustrates a large complex number. Chris’s
website, Chris Jordan Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait shows his
latest works followed by facts about the subject of each photograph. In one he
has letter blocks that explains how important education is. Once you click on
the image it zooms out to reveal that each block is made of many blocks to
eventually illustrate what 1.2 million children that drops out of school each
year looks like. And that is his point.</div>
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Chris explained in an interview with Chase Jarvis, that
someone can tell you that 1 million cups are used every 6 hours on American
airway each day but do you really understand what 1 million looks like? That is
what Chris has set out to show us. We hear big number but we don’t know how to comprehend
it. And most of the subjects and numbers
that he creates in to art are, unlike his images, disturbing. </div>
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On project photography the dyeing and dead birds full of
plastic on Midway Island Chris moved from the realm of stills to moving
picture. Again listing to his interview I felt that the subject matter was so
compelling those photographs were not enough to convey this story. With
donations he started to create this documentary that shows the beauty and grief
of these birds on to the big screen. At last news update Chris was showed the
film last April. Any further news of the film I will be sure to bring it up. </div>
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What attracts me to Chris’s work is the fact he is able to
create his large panel art using a photo repeatedly to show you what a statically
large number looks like. I have never see one in person but I would image, like
Chuck Close’s work that the majority of people walk up close to see the finder
detail. Chris, at least to me, motivates me to look at my life and how I impact
all that is around me. Overall Chris shows the unintended consequences of our
actions and that is very appealing to me. I also feel that need to show the
unintended consequence of those around my little world.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But don’t just read my words about Chris please
follow the links and watch his interviews and talks about his passion. I hope
you find it both educational and motivating to you</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/rtn/#building-blocks" target="_blank">Chris Jordan; Running the Numbers</a></div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-46621210377299767152014-02-26T00:00:00.000-08:002014-02-26T00:00:00.669-08:00Shooting in the Cold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaPlPlNY3U4I_73ImL7tBnrMf9pMuTNVbhKmiO5JKlKGNj-NybbzOjRIoAcEXlU8z0IuOd65wg8SPY9EhO95IKSK-eP1KLVAYyF3Ud0oCMlXEcazq0qcrH8hrnTPlwMw8A5kAafJK5tk/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaPlPlNY3U4I_73ImL7tBnrMf9pMuTNVbhKmiO5JKlKGNj-NybbzOjRIoAcEXlU8z0IuOd65wg8SPY9EhO95IKSK-eP1KLVAYyF3Ud0oCMlXEcazq0qcrH8hrnTPlwMw8A5kAafJK5tk/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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This winter, unlike the past few, has been very cold and
because of that I would bet that the majority of you have not ventured out with
your cameras. Understandable, it is hard to get up early knowing that the arctic
wind can find every seam in your clothing to crawl through. Not to mention that
the cold is hard on your equipment, but that should not hold you back from
photographing the beauty of winter. You just need to prepare well with warm
cloths and a zip lock bag. </div>
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Before you go out for your next session you must pick up
some one or two gallon zips lock bags and put a couple in your bag. I like zip
lock because they are much easier in the cold to open and close than the
regular bag. The reason you need these bags is to save off condensation when
you go back in the house. </div>
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As hard is the cold on your camera, so is condensation. Your
camera is cold and will help draw the moisture out of the air much like a glass
of ice water does on a hot summer’s day. That moisture finds its way into the
electronics and sensor of your camera wreaking havoc and eventually turning it
into a brick. Preventing this is simple.</div>
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<b>Fist</b>; once you are finished photographing power down the camera,
take the battery out then open the bag and slide it in. </div>
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<b>Second</b>; before closing it squeeze all the air out of the
bag. This way if there is any humidity in the outside air it will be purged
from the bag.</div>
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<b>Third</b>; it is ready to bring into the house, but don’t open
it yet. You must wait until the camera has warmed up to the touch. Then inspect
to make sure there is no sign of condensation. If it is all clear then it is
ready to use. </div>
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This technique works well for the summer. Late last summer
there was a vigorous lighting display that I wished to capture. Because the air
in my house was cool and the humidity outside was so high, condensation formed
on my camera. Had I been in possession of a large zip lock bag I could have
sealed it up, taken it outside and let the camera warm up to the outside temperature
without condensation.</div>
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So don’t let winter’s cold keep you from your photography.
With a little planning you can still have a great time getting shots of the
winter that seems to never stop. Shoot well and Shoot often. </div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-57979679002217411062014-02-24T00:00:00.000-08:002014-02-24T00:00:10.484-08:00A camera does not make the photographer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_nvT5DZpOqp7Jxz134t6j1GKPWlJzN2NMmXbZnyE5xYMBUObENtZz5JK6MHRCEuWCVwkPQa7jDnMUIsVOMja8oW6AGnCz1SokjK0T0z7bzG6F7sGPHgebgr3GluyGPrN4sJxeUTzdNw/s1600/K1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_nvT5DZpOqp7Jxz134t6j1GKPWlJzN2NMmXbZnyE5xYMBUObENtZz5JK6MHRCEuWCVwkPQa7jDnMUIsVOMja8oW6AGnCz1SokjK0T0z7bzG6F7sGPHgebgr3GluyGPrN4sJxeUTzdNw/s200/K1000.jpg" height="154" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>It </b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">doesn’t matter what kind of camera you use or how much you plunked down on the counter for it. The camera does not make the photographer. It is a tool that one uses much like the carpenter uses a hammer to craft his cabinets. The camera, in its most basic form, captures light through a lens onto a sensor or a strip of film where it is stored for the artist to process. It is as simple as the job of a hammer for driving a nail into wood. It is the human element; the brain, eyes and the heart that makes the photographer as it is for the carpenter in their craft.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-682c8f58-1a3e-f6f3-76f1-e2ce4c7338fc" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Noted in caption.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you look over the extremely large collection of images on the internet you begin to notice the need for people to note what camera was used in their captioning. For the most part if the image is stunning why then should we care what camera was used to capture the image? Wasn’t it the photographer that created the photograph? Wasn’t it the photographer that worked the image until it matches their vision of what they saw in their head? I have yet to find a camera that goes out on its own and take the picture. I know that I am sounding a little obtuse but really do we need to be so gear minded?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What makes a photographer?</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A true photographer knows their craft. Photographers learn how to balance the exposure equation by using the meter and the histogram. By understanding this balance they get it right in the camera first and not relying on PhotoShop to bail them out later. PhotoShop can’t always fix all your mistakes in your images. And if you were able to fix it in PhotoShop, how much stronger of an image would have it been had you taken the time to do it right in the first place?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A photographer studies all the elements of composition not only in their own craft but others as well. Looking at how Rembrandt use lighting to move your eye through the painting. By creating what is known now as Rembrandt lighting he is able to tell a story and move you through the painting. Vincent Van Gogh’s use of his brush and pallet knife to create motion in his “Starry Night.” By adding motion to a static scene he adds a new element to painting that later becomes part of the impressionist movement. By learning how other artist who work outside photograph handle composition in their subject, one can then apply that to better their work.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A photographer has passion to get up everyday and wonder what to create next. To look at the world with different eyes and show the possibilities, the beauty and the ugly. Engaging their audience to feel the aw of the wonderful planet we live in. To bring other people from other places into your space and on the walls to create an understanding about them you may have never had otherwise. To create something so unique it fills you with emotion that moves you to do something. Passion is what drives a photographer. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">None of these qualities have ever been built into a camera. I have never scrolled through a menu on the back of my camera and found Knowledge, Passion or Creativity. What I have found it the programs that will help me make a better decision about an exposure but rest is up to me. So remember, next time when you are typing information into the title or comment page, skip the part about the camera and instead give yourself credit for the image. If someone really wants to know what camera you used, they can find it under the photo information. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-69756270676958456792014-02-09T14:58:00.003-08:002014-02-09T14:58:55.967-08:00Second Round<div class="MsoNormal">
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It is early but I know that my efforts will be rewarded the
more I get out photographing the eagles. I put my layers of cloths on and make
my way downstairs to make coffee. My wife is up already and has, to my delight,
started the coffee. Once it is finished I drink a couple of cups in hopes to
warm and wake me up. I eventually work my way up to putting the dogs out for their
morning constitution. </div>
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After feeding the dogs I pack my bag and head out the roller
dam on the Cedar River. The air is cold and the light of the sun is on the
horizon as I make my way. “This time I will park a small distance from the river
and walk in” I thought to myself. “This way I will hopefully not disturb the
eagle or the rest of the wildlife.” Arriving, I parked the car and got myself
situated for the walk. The sun is now just below the tree line so I quicken my
pace to the spot I want to start shooting. </div>
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I entered the river bank area by an opening that seems to be
a boat ramp. It is just less than a quarter mile from the dam and where the
eagles like to hang out. I figured on hiking into the area they are roosting
and take photos along the way. The sun is now just breaking over the trees. The
warm light catches the steam lifting off the water and bathes the duck and
geese on the river. I stop and set up to squeeze off a few frames. Taking this moment I sit a listen to the river
rushing downstream, the ducks and geese calling out, alerting every one of my
presents. A that moment I caught a faint sound of the eagle cry in the
distance. I turned and up in the trees next to the dam I could see them. </div>
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The sun was up and the light caught 5 white heads of the
eagles as they sat in the tree. Crying out they took flight on the crisp
morning air. The hunt was on. For them fishing was first priority but for me I
had to hike some distance over uneven snow packed ground before I could start
photographing. I quickly switched my lens to the 500mm mirrored, secured my bag
and made my way slowly to a good safe spot.<br />
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As I made my way I ran across a crow that tolerated me being
very close. So close in fact I could almost touch him. Surrounded by twigs I
slowly put my view finder to my eye, focused and started to take photos. Slowly
moving around the crow I got three different shots with the third one being the
best, a head shot. “My wife will like this one.” I thought with the click of
the shutter and with that I made my way to the eagles as the crow remaining
undisturbed.<br />
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With the eagles on the hunt I moved in quickly to a spot
halfway to my intended destination. Pulling the viewfinder up to my eye I
started my exercise of fixing on a target and keeping it focused. This time I
had a plan. As the eagles flew away I turned the lens focus to the left and to
the right as they got closer. I fired off a few frames and watched as they
retreated back into the trees. After a few minutes I started slowly making my
way to the spot close enough to get good shots. 20 minutes and 80 yards passed
and I reached a place where I was close enough to photograph the eagles but not
spook them. Now the waiting begins. </div>
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In between flights I would turn my attention on the other
birds that occupied the area. Just out of sight I hear a cardinal, blue jay,
and chickadee calls but always at a distance. The duck and geese continued to call
and fly in and out of the area. Then out of nowhere the eagles would take to
flight again and the exercise would begin again. I worked the lens as I trained
my eye on the targets. They would fly close but not close enough for that one
money shot similar to the one I got my first day shooting. And as soon as it
started, it would be all over and the eagles would return to the trees waiting
for the next flight.<br />
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The eagles did not seem keen about getting too close so I took my
shots were I could. The cold was getting to the lens so quickly focusing was
becoming a problem which in turn yielded a lot of missed shots. I did however get
a few more photos of them perching on the trees. One in particular had the
eagle framed by the branches in the foreground which turned out to be the best
of the day shot for me.</div>
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Time passed and eventually the cold got to me so I made my
way back to the parking lot. I managed to grab one more photograph of geese
swimming on the river in the fog rising out of the water. Up the ramp and to
the parking lot I put my camera in the gallon bag and sealed it up tight. Stuffed
it back into the bag and made my way home. It is 0930 and the sun is now
warming up the trees and the snow is falling off of them. It is bright and
colors have been washed out from the sky as I make my way home. I think I will
try a late afternoon shoot next time that could be fun.<br />
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-83555605138947666152014-02-02T14:33:00.001-08:002014-02-09T14:43:02.278-08:00Eagles on the Dam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It’s 7am and the temperature has reached a balmy negative 3
degrees as I pack up my camera bag. The sun is just starting to broach the
horizon as I climb in to the car and start to make my way to the roller dam on
the Cedar River. The eagles have gathered there for the winter and today I am
going to try my hand at photographing them. I have a 500mm Mirrored lens that I
borrowed from my father that I plan to use for this adventure. I haven’t really
shot with it so I my expectations are low on a lot of sharp images coming out.
Nor have I spent anytime down by the dam to know where I should be to get the
best angles for this time of day. I am starting out a bit behind the eight ball,
right? </div>
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As I get close to the area I realize that my quick glance at
Google maps was not helping me in anyway. Lost and loosing time I rush around
trying to find a sign pointing me to the dam. The sun is now up and I can feel
the pressure mounting. If I arrive too late the eagles will not be as active and
I will have missed my opportunity to photograph. I eventually find a road that
leads a little farther south from my position and follow it. Pay dirt, I get
lucky and follow it to the dam. Just before I hit the parking lot I see them,
hanging around in the trees waiting like old men with fishing poles for the
fish to arrive. </div>
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I quickly but quietly get out of my car. I move this way
knowing that they can see me but hoping that by not making too much noise I
will not spook them. I head down off the parking lot and on the banks of the
river when the first one takes off, spooked. So much for my plan, so I hang
around putting the lens on and planning my next move. The eagles are east of me
as well as the sun. I need to move east and photograph them looking west but
getting around them will not be easy. There are only a few left in the tree,
two adults and one Juvenal. I move into the trees and up to the road where I
will cross in back of them. For some reason they were okay with me walking
behind them but not on the river bank.</div>
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I found a place and tried to work my way down a steep
incline to the river bank. I wish I could say I did this gracefully but I did
land hard on my ass and cause the ducks and geese to scatter. This was not
helping my effort in not disturbing the eagles. None the less I gathered up my
tripod and my pride and set myself up to start photographing. </div>
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The eagles did not disappoint. They flew majestically over
head searching for fish to catch. Because the lens is a manual focus lens and
fixed at f8 I had to squeeze off a few photos to get the exposure right. I set
the ISO at 1250 and shutter speed between 640 and 1600. I was not thrilled
about the noise I was going to get but again I also knew that I would miss a
lot of shot due to miss focusing.<br />
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Shooting with this lens was hard. I could have my subject
locked on and just a smallest movement of the lens or the eagle and the whole
image was soft. But damn how close I could get with it. The first half an hour
was spent getting use to the lens while following the rapture. I found myself loosing
the bird every once in a while in the middle of panning or focusing. I would
peek over the view finder then lock on and reacquire it again in the viewfinder.
Missing a lot of shots doing this I reminded myself that I have time and I am
just getting the feel for the whole situation. </div>
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As the hour past the warmth of the sun was not enough to
keep me from shivering while I was photographing. This proved problematic in
focusing because of the amount of movement in the viewfinder I was creating was
not helping me focus this touchy lens. So between the Arial show the eagles put
on I turned my attention to the geese and ducks that were bathed in the steam coming
off the river. I got down low and through the viewfinder composed images of
them against the rising vapors. I loved the shadows the trees were casting on
the river and found them helpful when composing the shot. I snapped a few
frames off and turned my attention to the eagles once again. </div>
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I lasted about two hours before I got too cold. In that two
hours I got to see an Arial display that shows why they command the skies. The
sound of the river and cries of both eagles and crows still echo in my ears as
I write this post. Just before I left I looked out over the dam and reflected
on the event and how important these areas of open water are to these birds of prey.
By keeping these ice free areas clean
from debris and chemicals we can continue to enjoy the beauty of the rich
wildlife that seek out these open areas. These are great places that are close
by to see animals that you might normally not see in town. So get out and enjoy
them. Seeing these birds in person is much better than seeing them on TV or
even in my photographs. </div>
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Enjoy and remember, leave no trace.<br />
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-53039317239653550332014-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-02T00:00:02.734-08:00Winter's White Blanket<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s the year ended and we
slide into the New Year, Iowans are being inundated by snow. We are in a state
of perpetual shoveling, clearing a path for our cars in order to continue or
daily commerce’s. Our lives do not stop for the white fluff on the ground. Instead we move it aside or drive over it
treating it as one of the many burdens in life we must bear. But for some of us
we embrace the fluffy white powder and revel in its complexity that makes it so
unique. Capturing it in photograph it’s depth, contrast and soft fatherly playfulness
upon the skeletal remains of plants form summers past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Between the snow showers
of last I crated these photographs of the harden remains of the summers
creation piercing through the icy winter's precipitation. On the canvas of snow the
shadows cascade over the surface, bending to reveal the slight imperfections of the
surface or the ground below. It is a landscape. It is a small landscape among
giant trees and vegetation of the past summer that one could almost imagine a
winter scene out of a New England painting. Children sledding down the hills, building
snowmen and having snowball fights. A microcosm of activity that only winter
can hold until the inevitable arrival of the melting warmth of spring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These images are the start
of a project that I hope will be ongoing for many years. I love the seasons and
want to create images that when look
upon them it says winter or summer. I think it would be fun to have a small
group of images on your wall that you
can change out as the season change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I find snow to be the
tougher of the subjects to photograph. When you ask people what color is snow
generally the answer most of the time is White (duh). But it isn't. There are
shadows and highlights that help to define the surface of snow. They give it
depth and texture while give contrast to the objects around them. Our meters
are often fooled by the reflective surface so we capture a grey sheet. But even
if you understand how to properly expose snow we often push it to look more
white. It is a conceptual bias that we perpetuate in order to make the overall
piece aesthetically pleasing. I do find myself wrestling with the overall
grey scale of the snow but feel it is what it is. I plan to do more as the
season goes on and maybe I show them all or just a few. Who knows. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">So embrace this feathery
white precipitation. Enjoy the complexity of the individual flake that builds
the blanket of white covering the ground. And most of all, photograph it. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-5835896799650952862013-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:002013-10-31T00:00:01.308-07:00Bird Feeder Setup<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
A
few years back, after putting in the pond, I have been watching the birds in my
backyard. With the sound of flowing water out of the tipped pot birds have
flocked, well mainly house sparrows, for their daily bath and drink. Because of
this I had decided to put a feeder up one winter in hopes of attracting birds
and break the boredom of the winter days. Again most of what came to the
feeders was the house sparrow, Passer Domesticus. But I noticed a few Chickadees
(Poecile Atricapillus) and Cardinals (Cardinalis Cardinalis) start to appear despite
the gangs of sparrows hording the food and space around the feeders. Later that
winter a couple of Juncos, Junco Hyemalis, with their flash of white on their
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In
2008 I was laid off around November. I found a temporary job helping deliver
packages during the silly season of Christmas. I was hoping after the delivery
job ended I would be picked up by someone else. This did not happen, so between
looking for a job and the few job interviews I had I filled my afternoons with
bird watching to help pass the day. I moved the feeders close to house for a
better view of the birds coming in and feeding. At the time we had a window
that flips up out of the way and with the feeders being close I had a great
spot to photograph birds. For the most part it worked but not having lenses
like 300mm or longer and the noise of the window opening I did not get the
ideal shots. I eventually got a job in which case moved the project to the back
burner for a few years. </div>
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This
year I thought I would revisit and rethink the project. I figured I needed to
get closer and light it better. I looked on line to see if anyone has come up
with a photo setup for photographing birds that was not too involved or expensive.
After seeing a few setups I decided to keep it simple, get some burlap
camouflage to hide under, a small branch to tie on a stand and a stand for a
flash. Now it seems silly and ineffective to just hind under the burlap in waiting
just to photograph birds, but that was the plan. When it comes down to it all you need to do
is to look like nothing of concern to the birds, and with the material
concealing my shape and features, that is what I accomplished. Of course my
wife and a few neighbors think I am a dork but oh well. I have been thought
less by better. </div>
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I
carefully chose a spot where there the background blurred would work for me. I
looked for lights and darks that would help define a shape by adding light
colors to the edges of the bird’s outline. I also looked for a spot that was
not too busy so the background would not distract from the subject of the bird.
This spot has the benefit of the sun creating a rim light on the birds in the
early afternoon when the background gets a little dark aiding in separating the
bird from the background. Using the flash I then can fill in the shadowed areas
and give a highlight to the bird’s eye. And because my flash’s light quality is
on the cold side I warmed up my white balance post production, to warm up the shadow
detail on the bird. </div>
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As
you can see I did not try to conceal the flash, camera and the tripods they sit
on. Not to mention the stick is tied with bright yellow rope to hold it in
place. The birds do not seem to be bothered by any of this what so ever. All I
have to do is set the camera and flash up, meter for exposure, connect the
cable release to the camera and hide under the burlap. After about 10 minutes
or so the birds come back to first wearily feed then relax and begin to gorge
and spar for position on the feeder. The sparrows are the most abundant at the
feeder but I have been around when a female Cardinal feed 3 feet from my feet.
At this time the others; Chickadees, White Breasted Nuthatch or Juncos, have
not come in nor have I heard them around the feeder. With the Cardinal coming
in and feeding I believe that this set up will work with even the jittery birds
like the fore mentioned. </div>
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At
this time I do not have a large variety of birds yet but the setup is new and
the season is young. I am hoping as the snow flies and food gets short for the
birds I will be drawing in a larger variety of birds. I will also be setting up
some spots on the tree to try to get some good photos of the Nuthatch and
Woodpeckers. But for now I will keep practicing with the setup I have to
improve my odds of getting the best photographs of the birds that stop by. </div>
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If
you decide to try a similar set up or has one that works for you, please post a
link or brief explanation in the comment section. Don’t forget to show off your
photos! Here are mine as of today.</div>
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-60034894208775834752013-10-14T00:00:00.000-07:002013-10-14T00:00:10.784-07:00The Rest of Us<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Amateurs look for
inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> Chuck Close</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Today..Hell this weekend was one of those times
that I was not motivated. After sitting around accomplishing nothing, I
repeated to myself the quote above from Chuck Close until I did something. Not
only did I take a few fall color photos but I did manage to set up a perch for
the birds so I can photograph them, or try to take their photos. I plan to get
up before sunrise, get all my chores done and hope to shoot off a few frames. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I was listing to the interview of Austin Kleon
and the subject on the different process people go through to create. One that
got me thinking was Jerry Seinfeld’s process. He gets a calendar for the year
and his only job is to make an “X” on each day. The only way he can do that is
to write a joke each day. Like the aforementioned
quote, you must work each day on the craft if you going to get somewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So each day I plan to do just that, one thing
minimum that pertains to my photography. After pulling myself out of the chair
this weekend I got a few photographs done today. Tomorrow will be the birds,
and we’ll see what happens after that. Got to get things rolling.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFzL2ATLEJtcw28HWfz2L8j1CQNC6g1iEDeIOpfIK6qbRhRIfgtDq91x00sQH37k91DxGwLXC2-wUjgjqx0vzzWt2UnTScevDIvtbhGzrSEFySgXVVyZvGmoDrKpg7nWcNUqFBwiLWzI/s1600/VineLeave3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFzL2ATLEJtcw28HWfz2L8j1CQNC6g1iEDeIOpfIK6qbRhRIfgtDq91x00sQH37k91DxGwLXC2-wUjgjqx0vzzWt2UnTScevDIvtbhGzrSEFySgXVVyZvGmoDrKpg7nWcNUqFBwiLWzI/s320/VineLeave3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0Cedar Rapids, IA, USA41.9778795 -91.66562320000002741.7889735 -91.988346700000022 42.1667855 -91.342899700000032tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-65771853818590195612013-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:002013-09-26T00:00:17.906-07:00Fall Colors on the Horizon<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQOohFGhMMlXLdmad0eTxJyqSr6p-kOjs7DdKyPT4o1RLxppUGBrN192-SbeAkRKucU8I-Ej4qSETNEuL325r1uHbg4UN1CQBiP_8a2Ru5eXkf1ccX19ay3TTevxGcsPxzmIQDkvi24s/s1600/155678_10151049150041927_2078956091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQOohFGhMMlXLdmad0eTxJyqSr6p-kOjs7DdKyPT4o1RLxppUGBrN192-SbeAkRKucU8I-Ej4qSETNEuL325r1uHbg4UN1CQBiP_8a2Ru5eXkf1ccX19ay3TTevxGcsPxzmIQDkvi24s/s320/155678_10151049150041927_2078956091_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are on the cusp of fall colors appearing on our trees and bushes. So this is the time to scout out the best places and times to capture that color. Photography is not always about capturing a moment that you happen to stumble on. But with a little observation and planning you can create a better photograph that is worthy of a matte and frame for a place on the wall. No matter if you are creating a photograph with a professional camera or your phone, it is not the camera that makes the photograph it is you. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Things to consider:</b></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time of day can make or break a photograph. Typically people will a photograph when the sun is high in the sky. This can create heavy shadows and colors can tend to be washed out leaving your viewer unmoved by the photograph. Instead consider creating your photograph at dawn or dusk which is known as the golden hours. This is the time when the light is not as powerful but enough so that colors will tend to pop. Thus creating a mood that can impact you viewer and isn’t it that what you are trying to do? My suggestion is to get up early and go out at dawn. Dawn is the time of day you are most likely to encounter fog that hangs low to the ground. This gives the photograph that little extra to the image that makes it one of a kind. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Reflection Impact:</b></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look for ponds, lakes and slow flowing rivers that, when still, reflect the trees. That reflection of color can create an impact to the viewer they may want a copy for their wall. Sometimes just the reflection of the color in the trees on the water can be the subject alone. Fallen leaves or leaf in a still pool of water can be just as powerful as a whole tree. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Explore your subject</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once the color has come out don’t just shoot one photograph and be done, instead walk around the subject to see other potential photographs you can create. The big misconception is that a professional photographer will just go out, find the subject and shoot one or two photographs and they are done for the day. That is far from the truth. You must grab the photographs you planned for then explore the surroundings for any opportunity you might miss. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Things to take:</b></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First and foremost is to be open to the possibilities that may be in front of you.Open eyes and looking at your subject from many angles will yield a better photograph. For anyone taking a digital SLR be sure to take a tripod and a cable release to help steady your shot. Most DSLRs have a fast enough ISO rating to take a hand held shot, but why? To help make a better noise free photograph, lower the ISO to 100 or 200. This will slow down the shutter speeds but you will get a better quality photograph.For those who have phone cameras anything else that is not a DSLR then you will have to be innovative when it comes to stabilizing your camera. Suggestions would be to use your car if you can, fence post, tree anything that will help you hold your camera still. Once you have taken the photograph and before you walk away, zoom in to the photograph to make sure you have a sharp image. I would think it would be mading to go home, look over your photos on the computer and find that all are blurred because of camera shake. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So remember to scout for a subject and look for all the possibilities of photographs you can create. Don’t forget about reflective surfaces to add that something to the photograph. Get up early or if you are not an early riser maybe look for the trees that look best at dusk. But if you miss the early morning fog you may be kicking yourself later. Take a tripod or something to stabilize the camera. Hate to have a great shot only to see that you have a fuzzy image due to camera shake. Most of all, have fun and explore the outside because soon the snow will fly, temperatures will drop and you will be stuck inside. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can’t wait to see your photographs. Have Fun!</span></div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-46610884771006870212013-08-18T00:00:00.000-07:002013-08-18T09:03:13.676-07:00The Lens:<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">If I ask
you what kind of lens do you have, what would your response be? Most people’s
response would be “the one that came with it the kit. “ Don’t know a long one?”
If you’re not sure that is ok. Most beginners don’t have the nomenclature of
the large selections of lens out on the market. In this section I will talk
first the parts of the lens, cleaning and care of the lens, protective filter
or not, filter, and the different types of lens on the market. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The first
thing you see on any lens is of course is the glass. In a 50 millimeter lens
there are 7 elements (glass) in 6 groups all refining the subject before you
into a sharp and clear image on the film or sensor plain in the camera. Typically
the better the glass you get the better the images you can capture. Put a great
lens on a standard camera and you will get great images despite the lack of
technology in the camera. This also holds true in the opposite, putting a poor
lens on a professional body will render awful images. It pays to buy good glass.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The second thing you
will notice when looking at your lens is the aperture at the back of the lens.
These are usually made of thin blades that open and close depending on the
setting selected by you.</span></span></h3>
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<span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The definition of aperture for
photography is a gap or space in which light passes through an optical or
photographic instrument which can vary in size to control the amount hitting
the film or sensor plain. This is also known as an F-Stop. On film cameras the
F-Stop was controlled by a ring on the lens. Select an F-Stop and if the
exposure is correct (or even if it is not) the camera had an arm that pushed
the blade’s lever on the lens to the F-Stop selected. On a DSLR, at least mine,
I select the F-Stop with a dial on the body and an arm pushes the lever on the
lens to the desired setting. For some cameras it is the body talking to the
lens and actuators do the work. </span></span><span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">So with the combination of the
glass and the F-Stop (aperture) will determine how good your lens is. Or you
will also hear someone refer to the lens as “glass”. There is good glass and
bad glass and depending which one you have will be a big factor on the quality
of images you will get. This is not to be confused on whether the photograph is
compositionally sound or not. You can have the best lens and camera and still
can’t shoot your way out of a paper bag. Good glass or bad is taking in account
of the actual glass and the widest F-Stop opening it offers. For example; </span></span><span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A 50 mm lens 1.8 is a good
piece of glass. This lens lets a lot of light in a most likely has clean
elements or glass are very well crafted. This also means that it will be very
expensive. On the opposite side a 50 mm lens at 3.5 is not a good piece of glass.
You still can get good photographs from it but it will not allow as much light
in therefore you have to use a higher ISO and slower shutter speeds. More noise
and more chances of camera shakes caught on the image. This lens will be considerably
less expensive. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t want to turn you in to a snotty
lens freak and insist you buy only the best lens or your nothing. The whole
idea in this explanation is to let you know why some lenses are so high priced
and some are so cheap and cheap is not always the way to go. You buy what you
can afford and if it means saving just a little more the better glass then you
will know your getting a great deal. </span></span><span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Heading3Char"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Lenses
are not only divided up in price but by size. 14 to 35 mm lens are typical wide
angle lens, 35mm to 70mm are standard and 70mm to 300 are telephoto lens. These
are general measurements and can be broken down in to farther categories so
don’t get too tied to these numbers. Lens can also be called prime and zoom.
Prime are set numbers like 50mm lens, 300mm, 800mm. Whereas zooms are 24mm to
85mm or 70mm to 210mm. Each type of lens has their pros and cons about each one
so which one will work for you will depend on the type of shooting you will do.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Now how
is the size of the lens determined? Well the size of the lens is not determined
by the length of the front element to the back element, but by the distance
from the point of convergence to the film plain or sensor. So where the light
is bent to a single point to the place where it falls on the film or sensor is
the determination of the lens size. If you have a 300mm lens, it is 300mm from
where the point of convergence happens to the film or sensor plain is located.
28mm is 28mm of that same measurement. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
To clean your lens; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">First you
want to blow off any dust and loose grime the front and back element. By
blowing off I mean either use canned air or a rocket. This way if you have dirt
on the lens when you go to clean it, you will not grind it in to the glass.
Next take a lens cloth and start from the inside and wipe out in a circular
fashion. Do the same for the back element. Now I don’t use liquid cleaners but
if you have to be sure you choose one that will not wreck your coating on the
lens. Once the coating has been compromised you may suffer color changes or
hazing of the lens and your images. In which case you have to have it recoated
it at which point you should just buy a new lens and keep the old one for a
paper weight. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">To filter
or not; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">It is up
to you whether you should or not but here is my advice. If you have a very
expensive piece of glass why would you put a crappy filter in front of it? If
you want to protect it place a lens hood on. The only filters I use are a
neutral density filter to aid in exposures and nothing more. But again it is up
to you on this issue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The last
thing I will say about lenses is now that we are in the digital age there are
two types of sensors. One is a cropped or DX sensor and the other is Full Frame
or FX sensor. If you are looking for a lens you will have to take into
consideration the type of sensor you have. It is a good practice to keep the DX
lens with a DX sensor and vice versa but I have heard that is not a hard rule
that must be followed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-4387255317480111742013-08-11T00:00:00.000-07:002013-08-11T00:00:03.189-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
What is Photography? Photography is <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(derived from the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language" title="Greek language"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Greek</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">phot-</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">for "light" and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>-graphos</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>for "drawing") is the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art" title="Art"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">art</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science" title="Science"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">science</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, and practice of creating durable<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image" title="Image"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">images</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by recording<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light" title="Light"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">light</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">or other </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation" title="Electromagnetic radiation"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">electromagnetic radiation</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, either chemically by means of a light-sensitive
material such as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_film" title="Photographic film"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">photographic
film</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, or electronically by means of an<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor" title="Image sensor"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">image
sensor</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> (</span></sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography#cite_ref-1"><b><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">^</span></b></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: #ddeeff; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="citation"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Spencer, D A (1973).</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="citation"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">The Focal Dictionary of Photographic
Technologies</span></i></span><span class="citation"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">. Focal Press.
p. 454.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">ISBN</span></a><span class="citation"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/240_50747_9" title="Special:BookSources/240 50747 9"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">240 50747 9</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">) But is that all photography is?
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Photography is an art, a science and a way to capture your
memories of life events. Until the advent of the digital camera photography was
not always as easy as it is today. With film you would shoot your photograph
and either develop it yourself or take it to a lab to see your results. Now
with the DSLR and other forms of digital photography you can see your photo in
milliseconds after taking it. If it doesn’t turn out well, you can make your
adjustments and take it again. Or you can shoot it now and fix it later in
Photoshop. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that the DSLR is easier and less expensive to own,
everyone is a photographer. Anyone can pick up one of these cameras, put it in
the Program mode and start shooting. And that is ok form most, but not for all.
This and the following posts is for those who want to know more, to learn to
think for the camera and not have it think for you. A friend told me once while
we were paintballing, “It’s not the gun and how fancy or fast it shoots but it
is the person that operates it that makes it an effective weapon.” This is much what Ansel Adams said about the camera
“<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>The
single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it<b>!</b></i>”</span> That held true for
cameras then and for today.</div>
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In the upcoming posts I will be discussing the parts of the
camera, f stops, the three legs of exposure, and much more. These post are
geared towards the beginners but for all of the experienced photographers, hang
in there. I might write about something you hadn’t thought about in year that
may change your perspective or turn on a light. Going back and revisiting
skills that you have can be a good thing. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeXEXmBD63VqTF6EDOGV6v8PKTmAqHbpnFMR_cP1G-hRQvYvMARz23Nsv4jTaRTg4z5j4bi1CHsrfXTiODF5PKa5QFHnrb8P-h6Y7qSzHihcA3rnx4F-NLZ7czGcBqlbeJYVYoRjSv4w/s1600/DSC_0133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeXEXmBD63VqTF6EDOGV6v8PKTmAqHbpnFMR_cP1G-hRQvYvMARz23Nsv4jTaRTg4z5j4bi1CHsrfXTiODF5PKa5QFHnrb8P-h6Y7qSzHihcA3rnx4F-NLZ7czGcBqlbeJYVYoRjSv4w/s320/DSC_0133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh what does this photo have to do with the post? Nothing. I just thought it would look nice here. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Keep you posted. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-13427993941006532632013-08-03T11:19:00.003-07:002013-08-03T11:19:56.217-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple of weeks ago I was playing with my flash outside. I
wanted to create a nice portrait light on my subject while muting the
background. With the image of my son I think I did just that. Here is what I
learned.</div>
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Now depending on what
you’re after I believe that you could either start with the flash reading or
ambient light reading. I took a flash
reading with an ISO 500 my flash was an f22. Next I took the ambient light
reading and it was 2 sec at f22. Because
I was interested in having my son being the subject of the photo and not the
background, I under exposed the ambient light by a stop and quarter. </div>
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I then took the image into Photoshop and touched up then
converted it to black & white with a sepia undertone giving it that warm
feel. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So what did I learn? Simple if you are going to shoot with
flash outside then remember this. The F-Stop controls the flash exposure and
shutter speed controls the ambient light. So if you want a darker background
then change your shutter speed and under expose it. But remember if you’re in
bright sunlight then you are going to need to have high speed shutter sync for
the flash and a powerful flash, otherwise this little exercise is a moot point.
For me because I did not have either one I did this shoot at dusk. Besides that
is the look I am going for anyway. </div>
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Hope you find <span style="text-align: center;">this helpful. Find more at my blog along with
this post. </span></div>
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-1762112447247957742013-01-27T14:31:00.003-08:002013-01-27T14:31:52.027-08:00This WeekThis week has been kind of busy for me so I have not been thinking about any one thing specifically. One of my goals this year is to build a portfolio that I could use for commercial work. As much as I love my artwork, right now it is not paying the bills. In fact I have been told that unless I sell a print(s) I cannot spend any money. I reluctantly agreed after it was point out that my wages in combination of my spending habits with my “hobby” was draining the bank account. Hence the need to build a portfolio to break into the commercial field. <br />
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In the midst of my moody Monday I started to think about the photography I have done and what would I like to do. It then occurred to me I really should build a portfolio that leans a little more on the commercial side. Don’t get me wrong I love the art but right now I am not getting much for it. Not that if I suddenly sported a cluster of awesome commercial work that I would suddenly be getting jobs. But if I start on it now I might have a better chance of doors opening up and a way better income would follow. <br />
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So here is what I am going to attempt this year. After looking over some of the work of Tim Tadder I thought I would try my hand at extreme portraits. My first victim ,, ah subject will be my son. He just got done with his swimming season so his time opened up to be a model for me. The second subject is a car. I would like to create a photograph(s) of a car that look like they were made for an ad. Third one is birds in the backyard. I have a remote and want to try to get some nice photos. The last but not least goal is architecture and or interior photography. With such a divers range of subjects I should be able to excel at one or two types of them. The end goal is to place the best on a website and start to market myself for commercial work. Once I have some money coming in I can invest a portion to my artwork there by saving what I get from my steady paying job for the family. <br />
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As far as portrait work. I don’t mind it but I really don’t feel I do a good enough job unless I have complete control. By control I mean a central theme with everything mapped out up to and including the clothing. Most of my clients I have done were not that open to the consultation idea. If I go back to portraits I want to use what I get from my son’s session to draw people in and follow my rules. It is the only way I feel I can give them what they are looking for. <br />
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I ran across a video of a photographer that creates cool photographs, Erik Johansson the Impossible Photograph. Every now and again when I need a little inspiration I watch the video. So enjoy. <br />
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-56053470056617667952013-01-20T19:18:00.001-08:002013-01-20T19:18:21.647-08:003 Books You Should Read There are so many books in the world of photography that should be read it would take too long to list them out. But I have three that I feel that every beginning photographer should put on their list of continuing educational reads. Not to mention the intermediates and master photographers can benefit from these books too. As you have seen in the past few posts, and most likely many more, I am big into continuing education and books are one way to do that. The more you read, listen or take part in a workshop the better chance you have to elevate your photography from a snap shot artist, to fine art. The three books I believe can put you on a path to enlightenment is “Photographically Speaking” by David duChemin, “Digital Landscape Photography” by Michael Frye and (don’t laugh) your owners manual. <br />
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Starting with the “Owners Manual” of your camera. The camera is a tool that has evolved from an instrument for an artist to trace details on to a canvas, documenting the world around us, to the everyday device we carry in our pocket and phone. The principal of the camera has not changed over the years, it is how it records the information as well as the complexity of this tool that has change. As an experienced photographer most of the time I can pick any camera up and produce an adequate image from it, film or digital. But noticed I said adequate and not “the best” image from it. The problem is that there are a lot of photographers in the beginning that don’t spend time with their owners manual and therefore they don’t get the full understanding or benefit of their tool<br />
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The owners manual, as dull as it can be, is the best way to understand and learn what your camera is capable and incapable of doing for you. Many time and many photographers out there have pushed their cameras to a limit in order get the shot they want, only to be disappointed in the result. A flip side can also be true. Many photographers wished they could do something that they believe their camera can’t do but had they read the manual would have discovered it was possible. For an example, (and this one is from my experience file) I wanted to shoot in the mode of black and white because I prefer it over color. In the black and white mode you can see details of the grayscale that may warrant a shift in exposure that you will not get by seeing the image in color. Remember the more you do for your exposure in camera the less you need to fix in PhotoShop. Bugged by this need I decided to pull the manual out just to see if this feature was possible. To my happiness I discovered there was a mode to switch the recording and display of file from color to black and white. The process to change to that mode was not in a place to that made it easily spotted. Thanks to the manual I found it. <br />
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As under rated and over looked as the owners manual is I believe it to be just as important to read it as the myriad of the other books out there. The knowledge of what your camera can and cannot do can be the difference of a ok shot to a work of art.. So laugh at the suggestion but don’t ignore it, read your manual if you haven’t already. Spend sometime with this book to find a feature your camera has you did not know about. Come to an understanding about the features of your meter or focusing program you did not know about. <br />
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The Second book is called “Photographically Speaking; a deeper look at creating stronger images” by David duChemin. I know I have brought up this book in past posts but I truly believe that this book will dramatically help you understand design principals that apply to photography. Just like not knowing your camera, not understanding good composition is one of the factors in a creating bad photographs. If you don’t have an art degree or outside knowledge of good design principals, or even if you do, this book is one that should be in your library. <br />
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The author David duChemin is a “humanitarian and world photographer” wrote this book in two parts, a jet lagged stupor and the second part was in rehabilitation learning to walk after a fall in Pisa Italy. He broke his book down into three parts and uses his work to illustrate the principals he is discussing. In creating this book, David hopes to bring an awareness of the photographic language. The better understanding of the language the greater the expression in our photographs. <br />
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What I got out of this book was my reestablishment of what I learned in college. The reason I liked sitting in a classroom and talking about someone’s, including mine, artwork. It got me back into slowing down and looking at what I had or was about to create. To objectively look at my photographs, or more to the fact, other photographer’s work and understand why the photograph works or not. This is an important tool to have because you may instinctively know that the compositionally works but you don’t entirely understand why. Not understanding your language will only lead to frustration and eventually you quitting photography altogether. <br />
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The last one that I would recommend is “Digital Landscape Photography” by Michael Frye. Now not everyone is a landscape photographer but this book does cover a wide variety of topics that can help anyone in their photos. Topics like depth of field, contrast, filters, histograms and the printing process. It is an easy read and the real deep concepts are illustrated to be easily explained. I read this book in one sitting and use it for a reference guide from time to time. If you are really looking for a technical book this one would be good to have. <br />
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Like I have said, there are many books out there that cover photography and to list them would take too much time and effort but this is were you come in. If you have a book that has either change the way you create photographs, or print or loaded with so much information that everyone should own it, tell us about it. Put at least two books that you think everyone should read in the comments sections or on my Google plus page. Shared information is the best information out there. <br />
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David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-48146317285128808542013-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:002013-01-13T00:00:04.080-08:00What kind of photographer are you?This is a question I have been wrestling with for the past few years and to this date I believe I am on the right track..Well at least I can say that now cause who knows what will change tomorrow. I wanted to blog this subject because I cannot believe that I am the only one that has gone through this. In fact I know I am not the only one because there are number of books out there on how to choose your path and become pro. I know because I have one of the many books. In trying to dispense some advice I will try to interject some of what I have learned so far. <br />
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The moment we decided to become a photographer was the very minute we were caught up in the beauty of a print another photographer created. I remember when I saw the print that Ansel Adams created of El Capitan I was hooked. I continued to study other photographer like Edward Weston , Dorothy Lange and Arnold Newman and inevitably tried to emulate their style. I took classes at high school, read books and learned what I could about the photographic process. <br />
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I eventually went to college and was determined not to “sell out” and go commercial. I wanted to be a true artist photograph the landscape and sell my work to all my followers. What I failed to realize is the fact by selling my prints I would be commercial there fore “selling out.” The second thing is the size of my college bill that I had to pay back. So far “selling out” was something I needed to do. So after graduation I took a job with a portrait studio in the mall. For the record, you had to learn the 5 sellable poses before you could shoot a paying customer. There were a few people that were not able to complete this task and was out the door. I learned my craft well and had developed a healthy customer base. I enjoyed what I did and learned a lot, but the hours killed me. <br />
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While working at a graphics job I really tried to gather a following to build a business. This was not easy but I did well the first year and the second was as good but after that it did not go well. I started to lose my interest and eventually I gave up all together. The industry changed, I changed and I was not keeping up. I even put the camera aside altogether. It wasn’t until a year or so passed by before I picked it up again, going back to what inspired me, landscapes. <br />
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This is my point. We all start off shooting everything we can but later we think we must start shooting something that will make money. Most of the time that is portraits and not all of us belong in that group. We pick a spot because it pays but it eventually burns us out and makes us quit. Sometimes we never go back and it should not be that way. <br />
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If you are reading this and are lost on your photographic path just remember this; whatever got you hooked on photography, whatever brings you the passion of photography, and the reactions you get from your peers on your work you should follow it. If your gut feeling is that you should be a landscape photographer, or portrait and your peers back you then do it. Learn everything you can form books, mentors, and other photographers. This will be the path that will bring you the most joy in photography, not the one that you think you have to do. I thought I had to be a portrait photographer to make money, but I don’t. David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039871225358945197.post-82168830679187583892013-01-05T10:00:00.000-08:002013-01-05T10:04:59.855-08:00Podcasts and WebsitesI think continued education is important in order to be inspired, learn new techniques or keep up with new technologies on the horizon. In the past you had to rely on the monthly or bimonthly magazine to keep you abreast of the newest and latest topics. But now that we live in a IPOD world were Podcasts, which come in audio and video along with countless webpage stops, you can find anything about photography you want. Oh and two clicks from that is porn, just saying. So with all that is out there, and porn, where do you go to find the best information? Traditionally you would spend countless hours hunting around to find what you are looking for in which you would score or not. In the case of Podcasts to find the show or shows you want you have to listen or watch a few shows in order to get an idea if it is what your looking for. Or you can skip all that and continue to read on for my suggestions. <br />
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For me I learn best by listing and watching. So for the most part my continue education of choice has been Podcasts, and there are a lot out there. I stumble on Podcasts by pure curiosity when I was looking for something to listing to at work. I like talk radio but the things I like are not always on or on the stations I can get. So when I came across Podcast and the myriad of subjects they covered I thought I had hit the mother load. Oh and Porn, ya its one of the subjects covered in some Podcasts. So I started to down load a show or two and listen to a few of their casts to see if it was what I wanted. After a lot of shows I found a few that are worth passing along. <br />
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This Week in Photography or Twip. Frederick Van Johnson hosts this show and is accompanied by a Alex Lindsay and a verity of others that guest co-host. Topics covered are camera techniques, technology, news as well as in depth interviews with the mover and shakers of the industry. Interviews have been with people like Chase Jarvis, Trey Ratcliff developers of SumMug and a model from Model Mayhem. There has not been a subject TWiP has covered that I have not found unappealing or useful. I have been a follower of the Podcasts now for over a year and have not been disappointed in any of the subjects they cover. <br />
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What I like about this group is that they cover such a wide verity of subjects that even a weekend shooter can use. One such subject that sticks out was the episode on model releases and copyrights, episode 278. I found interesting the fact you are limited on what you can claim on a photo if you have not registered it with the copyright office. It is this type of show ant the others I have listen to that keeps me coming back. I also appreciate the way the Podcast is structured. Although there is humor and some inside jokes that come up in the show, it never strays down a childish path. <br />
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Not only should you check out the Itunes site for Podcasts but go to the Twip website to see additional articles and video postings that are not covered on the Podcasts. Most recent was the video cast with Ian Stone, Director of Business development of Zenfolio. Frederick does a very good 18min interview with Ian about what Zenfolio has to offer the pro or non pro photographer. Frederick is fair in the questions to help his viewers determine if the product is right for them. To me that is important. I need good information in order to make informed decisions about my photography. <br />
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This next Podcast is one that does and doesn’t cover photography. Chase Jarvis Audiocast is hosted by photographer/director Chase Jarvis in which “he explores art, creativity, and popular curl rue through his experiences and collaborations with visionary creative’s from around the world.” This is a great way of saying there is a lot more that is covered that directly and indirectly relates to photography. <br />
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Chase Jarvis is a photographer/director that brings in talents like Ryan Holiday author of “Trust me I am lying” A marketing book in which the author tells how he manipulate the media to get them to talk about his products without paying money in advertising. There are many other lesions on other ways to use social media to get the attention you strive for. Ryan doesn’t talk in specifics of photography but what he says in this Podcast can be applied for photographers.<br />
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I really like how Chase books guest that doesn’t directly deal with photography but through their wisdom we as photographers can grow. My favorite guest on the Podcast is Oren Klaff the author of “Pitch Anything.” This book teaches you not how to sell but pitch your ideas or products. Oren runs down along with Chase giving his experience using Oren philosophy on the pitching techniques. It is done with humor and real life examples. With most Podcast I delete them when off my Ipod when I am done. This episode I have kept it on and listen to it at least once a week. It is that good and that motivating. I am writing this before Christmas. I have put this on my list and if I don’t get it then I will buy it after words. Chase Jarvis is a must Podcast to listen to. You will learn things that you never knew that you wanted to know. <br />
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The third recommendation is a show that is called “The Grid.” “The Grid with Scott Kelby & Matt Kloskowski is a live talk-show about photography, Photoshop & other industry-related topics. Each week features a different guest (in-studio or online) and viewers are encouraged to chime in on the Liveblog here on KelbyTV.com or via Twitter by adding #TheGridLive to their tweets” If you like PhotoShop or Light Room this is the Podcast for you. <br />
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I am still combing through past episodes and listing to new ones to see how the information will benefit me. I am someone that uses PhotoShop and eventually add Light Room to my list of photo tools. But I don’t use them that deeply so some of the episodes don’t entirely interest me. Although the last episode of the year did capture my attention.<br />
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Episode 80 was on ways to become a better photographer for 2013 which caught my attention. In the episode they gave step by step information that would help you determine what path to take as a photographer, how you should better yourself and once your on the path, how to build a career out of it. For me I found this to be helpful in that it affirmed some of what I was doing and gave me a next step to follow. Although I do not always agree with their advise because of differing philosophies on photography I do find them helpful to my cause. Not only do Scott and Matt have this Podcast but there are classes that are available on The Grid website for a fee. Not to mention the books that they and other trainers offer through Peach Tree Publishing. <br />
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The last one is “The Pro Photo Show” hosted by Gavin Seim. The subjects covered can range from tips and trick to printing and photography philosophy. I find Gavin in the same boat as myself when it comes to photography. For me there are far too many poor quality photographs that could have been better if only the photographer took their time in creating the photograph. Gavin is a teacher and one who wants to change or improve the photography out there. He often talks about the master painters and their use of light and how we as photographer should incorporate that into our work. Gavin’s Podcast can originate from his home or on the road. All depending what kind of project or classes he his involved with. If you believe photography is an art and want to expand yourself in that direction then Gavin’s Podcast will be a fit. <br />
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There is a lot of Podcast out there and the few that I have mentioned may or may not fit your needs. It is important as a photographer to continue the education necessary to keep the work fresh and exciting. Not to mention to learn more about what is out there that can directly or indirectly impact our photography. I encourage you to check out these Podcast and seek out others through out the year. Most of them you will find on Itunes, just type their name, find a subject that interests you and click on play. Enjoy. <br />
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<a href="http://www.thisweekinphoto.com/">Frederick Van Johnson</a><br />
<a href="http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/live/">Chase Jarvis</a><br />
<a href="http://www.prophotoshow.net/">Gavin Seim</a>David Glandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329652538632174742noreply@blogger.com0