sedona real video with lumix

I was a virgin before this project. Videographer that is…

My partner in this production, Neal of Promo Films West has been after me to do video for a large number of years. With my move to micro 4/3rds Lumix cameras I finally aquiesed. Since getting the Lumix GH3 and Lumix GX7 I’ve been experimenting with bits of video but this project for Sedona Real Inn & Suites was the first time to go into full production. These cameras capture great video and Neal was super impressed by some of the features but one in particular got him very excited, The ability to shoot at 1080 and 60P. I had no idea what a big deal this was when we started but after seeing the motion used in the clips I get it. Neal did the editing on this project and was quite creative.

Here’s the promo… Let me know what you think.

Sedona Real Inn & Suites Promo Video
Looking to get some video for your property or project? Let’s talk. Neal and Promo Films West are ready to go to work for you. Give me a shout or drop an email.

sunday photo/art quote 2/1/14

WHAT IS THAT?

Wayne Thiebaud photography quote“Common objects become strangely uncommon when removed from their
context and ordinary ways of being seen.”
Wayne Thiebaud

I know there have been times when I wasn’t quite sure what the subject was of an image… But, I liked it!

Then finding out what was actually in the image I became even more impressed.

Think Body-Scapes, (*Please if you are offended by nudity please do not follow the Bodyscapes link)

Think Howard Schatz 

Think Jerry Uelsmann

Think Edward Weston and the pepper among other iconic images

Think Abstract Photography.

When was the last time you pushed the limits of what you were trying to capture? Sometimes less is more when trying to tell your story. Spend some time poking around some of the links I shared here. Find more of your own and share them back here.

THEN THINK. JUST THINK….

another personal photo project

Thundering hooves passing by as the riders chase a small white ball with long sticks…

My first live polo match enhanced by the tailgating party before-hand. Holly and I were on our way to the airport and our friends *Skip & Sheila Cohen hooked us up with this experience at the Polo Club in Lakewood, Florida.

*Skip is founder of Skip Cohen University – definitely worth a look if you have interest in marketing your photography business!

But, I digress… I ended up shooting the match with the 100-300mm f3.5 to 5.6 lens on the Lumix GX7. There was plenty of light so there was enough shutter speed to handhold with an ISO of 800. I always enjoy photographing new subject matter whether I have a specific reason or not… Then I’ll sometimes do a self assignment to see if there is a way to sell the images.

The possibility here is for art images to sell to polo players or as decor. But, I wanted to be even more specific. I saw they had produced a really high end magazine supporting the matches with lots of graphic artwork. So how about a couple cover possibilities??

cover possibility photo design polo magazine cover possibility photo design polo magazine cover possibility photo design polo magazineWhat can you do to push your skills? What’s your latest personal project that you did for the heck of it? And then turned into money? I working on that part now. I’ve already contacted the Sarasota Polo Magazine to see what I can work out with them…

personal project success

SUCCESS!

This job started as a result of a personal project. I was trying some new art techniques on images made of musicians during live performances. Showed the results to Mark and he immediately asked if I would design his next CD release cover and marketing materials…

CD packaging photography & graphic designSix fold CD packaging design for Mark T Small started with a personal photo project

Apparently he made a good choice. Here’s an email from Mark.

“Bob – I think your art work is paying off big time. The media promo started Jan 1 and I am getting more looks than the last CD. Doing some radio interviews and getting some good action on the blogs. I really think that your work is making these people pick the CD up out of the pile to further investigate. Thank you so much Bob. The reporting radio stations start next week and I will keep you posted. I sent out 200 CDs for media on 1/1 and 200 CDs on 1/24 for reporting. Pretty crazy – I will keep you posted .
 
Thanks again Bob – best to Holly”

mark

Mark T. Small   (a.k.a. – J. Wyman Burke)
Delta & Chicago Style Blues
www.marktsmall.com

I ask you… What personal project are you working on to stretch yourself? And, how are you working it into your business?

Yours in Photography,     Bob

time out for a sunday

Man the meal was awesome!

Got the recipe from my fellow photographer Jim Lersch near Branson, Missouri. (He does some top notch commercial work and a different way of photographing seniors… Don’t hesitate to see him speak or buy his educational materials) Man it was wonderful but I gotta tell ya Mushroom Risotto is not the dish to have as a side unless you cook it in advance. 25 minutes of stirring in the goodies will leave you with a cramp in your arm… The Pollo al Vin Cotta?? Freakin’ amazing!

Now how does photography fit in this post?? Well you know me and panoramas! Grabbed the Lumix GX7 and pano’d the all the food ready to go after the prep.

kitchen & food photoPanorama shot of the spread before the food was all combined.

photo of photographer Bob Coates in the kitchenMy wife grabbed the camera and caught me at the stove in my apron. ( I think she kinda liked that….)

Don’t  forget that memories pass in the blink of an eye. Make sure that you don’t forget to capture your own as well as your clients. Cheers!

sunday photo/art quote 1/26

FAR AFIELD…

Some times I head to the place where others fail to look when searching for photographic inspiration. I feel that there’s a tendency for photographers to learn from other photographers who learned from other photographers. Ad infinitum. Can you say inbreeding boys and girls? And – what are the usual results of that??

I’d like to share one of my favorite ‘off the wall’ places to find inspiration for creativity, thinking different and generally sometimes to just be entertained. It’s the Monday Morning Memo and you can sign up for your weekly dish of marketing and creativity thinking. Read the memo and dare to proceed down the Rabbit Hole with the Indiana Beagle. (Think Harrison Ford with longer ears and four legs that are slightly shorter than the two legged version) See what happens when you embrace thoughts from one who is coming from a totally different world. Go ahead! I DARE YOU. MMM is where I found the quote that started this Sunday’s photo/art repast.

DDINK WEBER QUOTE IMAGE“Originality begins with ignorance.”  Dink Weber

Four words. Powerful thought.

How many times have you and I created an image and been so excited by the fact we were able to make it… but it was really just a redo of something we have seen before?? Guilty! I say, I am.

When I start moving off the path of the tried and true, not regurgitating the work of another, when I play and experiment I find I sometimes, …sometimes I come up with something I can really call my own. Not often. But now that the thought is here I will try harder. And more often. Does that mean I don’t continue to stand upon the shoulders of those who have gone before? Of course not.

Photography is similar to music. On a scale there are only twelve notes. And it’s the way these notes are combined, with speed and repetition and layers of the same notes again and again… And then the surprise! A discordant note! Or a twist you weren’t expecting. That’s what separates the Master from the Journeyman. Our notes are color, shadow, light, hue, saturation, lines, composition,subject matter and position. Playing one off against the other in layers and different combinations until we are satisfied.

So let me ask. Do you aspire to be a Master? Or a Journeyman? Answer yes to either and that’s perfectly fine. But in order to be a Master you need to make mistakes. Lots and lots of them. Because therein is where you will learn the most, the fastest, but with the most doubt and pain. Are you willing??