by successfulbob | cityscape photography, Guest Post, Lumix G9, travel photography
Porto, Portugal – Guest Post
by Ken MacAdams
Ken is a traveling man and uses Lumix gear during his travels. Ken will share some of his travel photography and stories here on Successful-Photographer as he has in the past. Ken’s camera of choice is Panasonic’s flagship stills camera the Lumix G9 with the Leica DG Vario-ELMARIT Professional Lens, 12-60MM, F2.8-4.0
Heeeeere’s Ken!
Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its port wine and stately bridges. In the medieval riverside Ribeira district, narrow, hilly cobbled streets wind past merchants’ cafes and houses. Close by is the Dom Luis I Bridge, a double deck metal arch bridge that was designed by Gustav Eiffel, the same man who designed Paris’ famous Eiffel Tower. Spanning the River Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, this unique bridge offers great views of the river and city. You can walk across either level of the bridge, but most of the activity takes place on the streets adjoining the lower level, or riverside.
Dom Luis I Bridge. The bridge was designed by Gustav Eiffel. Rabelo boats in the foreground.
All Photos in this post © 2019 Ken MacAdams
While on the Vila Nova de Gaia city side, or south side of the river, we turned down Avenida Diogo Leite, a street paralleling the River Douro. This street is lined with a multitude of sidewalk cafes, and numerous wine tasting establishments. Settling in at one of the sidewalk cafes, we enjoyed the views of watercraft plying the River Douro, with the hillside city of Porto in the background.
Cafes and housing in the old Riberia district, Porto.
While history tells us it was the Romans – early conquerors of this land – that introduced the first grapevines to this area, it was the Brits who championed port. The significance of the wine producing Douro area dates back hundreds of years. When England was at war with France in the early 1700’s, English merchants began importing wine from this region, for the deprived English wine drinkers of French wines. British importers realized the need for a smooth fortified wine that would not only appeal to English palates but would also survive the trip to London.
Wine Cellar
Port wine is typically richer, sweeter, and higher in alcohol content than unfortified wines. This is caused by the addition of distilled grape spirits to fortify the wine and halt fermentation before all the sugar is converted to alcohol, and results in a wine that is usually 19% to 20% alcohol. The grapes aren’t grown in Porto itself, but in the region extending inland up the Douro River Valley.
To be continued next Friday. Porto, Portugal – Part Two
Ken MacAdams – “I grew up with a darkroom in my basement…so all the old film skills were my friend when digital came on the scene. Funny thing happened…photography just got more interesting as digital posed new challenges! While I loved the characteristic sounds and smells of the old wet-process darkroom days, I wouldn’t go back!”
Ken has always loved to travel, so when he made a common connection with the fact that either a long day pounding the streets of some foreign city, or shooting the last dance at a wedding, a good part of his physical weariness came from lugging around my big heavy DSLR. That’s when he started looking at alternatives – and ended up selecting Panasonic Lumix Micro Four Thirds gear.
Ken is rarely without a camera, and the next great photo travel experience – whether local or abroad – is always in the back of his mind! A longtime resident of the Four Corners, and when he’s not out on the road, he enjoys some of the great outdoor opportunities found here – mountain biking, hiking, and Jeeping.
by successfulbob | Guest Post, Marketing Monday, photography marketing
Loose Ends – Marketing Monday by Skip Cohen
Okay, gang, we’re down the to the wire and the fourth quarter, complete with some substantial seasonality, kicks in next month! It doesn’t matter what kind of year you’ve had to date, great seasonality for most photographic specialties is about to start.
So, the question is, how many incomplete ideas, loose ends, are on your desk, or bouncing around in your head. Loose ends are all those projects you’ve procrastinated about, and they range from mending fences with your adversaries to cleaning up the back room of your studio. Relax, I’m not suggesting you need to clean it all up today, but what a kick to put all your loose ends down in a list and then start checking them off one at a time.
Remember, half the battle is beating procrastination, and we all do it. We put things off waiting for the shoemaker’s elves to come in the middle of the night and clean up the mess. Sadly the only elves who show up are the Keebler Cookie guys, and they only add to your belt line!
I found a great quote from Orison Swett Marden (spiritual leader from the 1800’s)
“A lobster, when left high and dry among the rocks, does not have sense enough to work his way back to the sea, but waits for the sea to come to him. If it does not come, he remains where he is and dies, although the slightest effort would enable him to reach the waves, which are perhaps within a yard of him. The world is full of human lobsters; people stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat.”
Okay, get out the pad of paper and make that list…I did mine a few minutes before writing this post, and while I’ve made no progress, it’s at least a start! I am however craving a bag of Keebler Cookies and a lobster…go figure.
Skip Cohen has been involved in the photographic industry his entire career and previously served as President of Rangefinder/WPPI and earlier, Hasselblad USA. He founded SkipCohenUniversity.com in 2013. Skip is a co-host for “Mind Your Own Business” and “Beyond Technique,” webcasts through Photofocus.com, writes for several publications including Shutter Magazine and is actively involved in several advisory boards for non-profit organizations.
by successfulbob | Guest Post, inspiration, Marketing Monday
Learning to Take a Break!
Monday Morning Marketing by Skip Cohen
“I’m an optimist. I’ve always believed the future is going to be better than the past. And I also believe I have a role in that. The great thing about human beings, myself in particular, is that I can change. I can do better. If you can get up every day, stay optimistic, and believe the future is better than the past, those few things get you through a lot of tough times.” – Jeffrey Immelt
It’s one of my favorite quotes, because I’m often criticized for being overly optimistic. I love this industry and while being a small business owner keeps getting tougher, there’s business out there, but it takes creativity, diversification and focus to find it.
Above Bob Coates taking a break in the studio getting ready for some ‘Chill Time’.
I don’t know anybody who’s afraid of working hard, but the tough part is patience and recognizing when you need to take a break. You can’t be creative if you’re tired or missing time with family and friends because you’re working so hard.
For example, now and then something comes along that totally lights your fire. You’re driven by the passion for some aspect of this business you love. Before you realize it you’ve become completely consumed. You’re totally focused, never noticing that very thin line between your obsession for your business and that of a crack addict!
You’ve got to recognize what they meant when they coined the phrase, “Rome wasn’t built in a day!” That means it’s up to you recognize when you’re approaching burnout and take a break. It takes work to find balance between all the hats you wear, and it’s just as constructive to step away from the business as it is to keep working.
Remember, you can’t create images that tug at people’s heartstrings if your own heart isn’t in it! Recognize when you’re tired, creativity is declining and you need a break. Then, like the Nike tagline: JUST DO IT!
Skip Cohen has been involved in the photographic industry his entire career and previously served as President of Rangefinder/WPPI and earlier, Hasselblad USA. He founded SkipCohenUniversity.com in 2013. Skip is a co-host for “Mind Your Own Business” and “Beyond Technique,” webcasts through Photofocus.com, writes for several publications including Shutter Magazine and is actively involved in several advisory boards for non-profit organizations.
by successfulbob | Guest Post, Marketing Monday, photography education, photography marketing
Just Say No – Marketing Monday Post
by Skip Cohen
Bringing Back Nancy Regan’s “Just Say No” Campaign
No graphic by Bob Coates Photography
Many of you aren’t old enough to remember Nancy Regan’s “Just Say No” campaign, but I ran across a reference to her recently and started thinking about the simplicity of that statement. Well, it seems like the perfect way to have some fun thinking about a few new ground rules for professional photographers:
Just say no to thinking, “I’ll fix it in the computer later!”
Just say no to companies who make promises to deliver on time and then don’t come through.
Just say no to lowering your pricing before you’ve exhausted every idea you have available to add value!
From an old post from Cliff Mautner: “In order to combat the apprehension of my wedding clients, I felt the need to add a bit of value to their collection in lieu of reducing my pricing – which I was dead set against. An added hour here, a flexible payment plan there, and things fell into place nicely.”
Just say no to putting off that mailing you need to do to all your previous brides who are now starting families.
Just say no to those “trolls” in your life who drain energy instead of creating it!
Just say no to giving up the fight to be creative in attacking the market and developing a program of diversification in your business.
Just say no to negative people in your life. They don’t have to love your dreams, just respect them!
Okay, who wants to add a few more?
Skip Cohen has been involved in the photographic industry his entire career and previously served as President of Rangefinder/WPPI and earlier, Hasselblad USA. He founded SkipCohenUniversity.com in 2013. Skip is a co-host for “Mind Your Own Business” and “Beyond Technique,” webcasts through Photofocus.com, writes for several publications including Shutter Magazine and is actively involved in several advisory boards for non-profit organizations.
by successfulbob | Guest Post, landscape photography, Lumix G85, photography
G85 Travels to New Zealand
My Professional Photographers of America friend Ken MacAdams has been traveling the world and offered to share some of his insights on the Successful-Photographer blog. Ken need to travel light and has been using the miriorless systems from Panasonic. He used the G85 on this last trip.
Here’s Ken with a little history and info about a land down under.
Paradise, some would call it. Can’t say I’d argue, standing there while the sea breeze rustled through my hair. The puffy clouds graced the skies, while azure waters lazed below. Watercraft of varying description lay at anchor. This is the stuff dreams are made of!
Image © Ken MacAdams
This little slice of heaven is called the Bay of Islands, on the north eastern reaches of the North Island, of New Zealand. The waters here belong to an island called Waewaetorea. Sheltered from the large swells of the Pacific Ocean, this little piece of paradise is one the few islands among the multitude of islands here in the Bay of Islands, that is open to public access. Often you’ll see an array of sailboats and yachts anchored here, as revilers swim in the calm waters, and bask in the sun. It’s one of those incredible panoramas that is permanently etched into my memory!
In 1769 Captain James Cook anchored his ship Endeavor in a nearby bay as he explored the area. A nearby historic seaside village called Russell, has been a haven for visitors since the 1700’s, and was a base for the whaling industry in the 1830’s. The rowdy behavior of its inhabitants during the whaling years earned in the nickname “Hellhole of the Pacific”. Today Russell is a sleepy tourist destination.
Russell Bay. Where once whaling vessels lay at anchor, pleasure yachts visit today. Once the “Hellhole of the Pacific”, Russell now finds its niche as a sleepy tourist destination. Image © Ken MacAdams
Other islands in the bay range from unusual volcanic basalt rock formations to wildlife reserves. American author Zane Grey lived in Othehei Bay in the 1920’s, while he wrote his popular book, “Tales of The Angler’s Eldorado” – which made the Bay of Islands world famous as a game fishing destination.
The friendly resort town of Paihai, which means ‘good here’ in Maori, says it like it is! From the furthermost out island, Motukokako, or Hole in the Rock, (which can be navigated through if the waves aren’t too aggressive!) to the smallest of islands, there’s history around each corner, and beauty along each cove. It truly is good here!
Bay of Islands. Islands from large to small dot this body of water. Yachts and pleasure craft ply these vibrant azure waters. Image © Ken MacAdams
My go-to camera was the Panasonic Lumix G85, with the Lumix 12 – 60mm OIS lens affixed. This combination proved both lightweight and compact to pack whether exploring on land or sea.
Ken’s Bio: Ken MacAdams makes Farmington NM his home, when not on the road. Growing up with a darkroom in his basement, Ken learned film skills early on. In 2005 Ken switched to digital, and never looked back! Ken has shot architectural, weddings and portraits, but today concentrates on world travel photography. Ken and his wife have been spending two months a year in China, while he concentrates on building a stock library from that rapidly changing nation.
I look forward to more of Kens travels being shared here on the blog.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
