by successfulbob | photography, photography education
The sun was in my eyes!
It was too windy…
The dog ate my posts! Yeah, that’s the one…
OK enough with the excuses. The reality was It was a busy, busy week. Started with the Arizona Professional Photographers Convention in Phoenix. I am always amazed how much I learn, even after all these years, of attending other photographer’s programs. I guess it’s because with the base knowledge that’s built over the years there are new levels of understanding.
Tim Meyer was an excellent speaker on lighting. He is on the faculty of Brooks Institute of Photography. I have heard him speak before but this time I was apparently more ready for the information he provided. His use of light modifiers in unexpected ways is amazing. He makes light dance! If you get the opportunity to see Tim or study with him… DO SO!. Look for his new book coming soon. His current book ‘The Portrait’ Understanding Portrait Photography is available now.
ON the marketing side I was impressed with Steve Kozak and his ‘touch the emotions’ type marketing. Sell by helping people get what they really want verses trying to sell things you want to sell. Check out Steve’s Guide book ‘The Road to Success Requires 4-Wheel Drive’ He had photographer’s crying during his coaching session and that will lead to getting the emotion into their marketing.
A real winning combination for learning is to enter images into competition and then attend the judging. AZPPA had four judges on hand to score the images and offer feedback during challenges. It’s part of my ongoing education and i highly recommend you get in the game if you haven’t already. Participate at your local, state, region and national levels and your photography will grow by leaps and bounds in short order. Who knows you may even win an award or two that will lead to some good press if you follow through in your marketing by sending out properly written press releases. You can learn more here. (I did OK but I’ll share that in another post.)
The rest of the week was running hard photographing, processing images, speaking, delivering Meals on Wheels and enjoying the company of my wife. Don’t let business take you totally away from your family. You didn’t loose out because I didn’t post for a week, but I would have if I didn’t spend quality time with my wife. I’ll fill you in on the other photography stuff over the next few days…
Your in Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | Lumix Lounge, photography, photography - art quote, photography education
I love this quote!
“Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph: not searching for unusual
subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual.” – Edward Weston
After learning that I live in Sedona, Arizona people often comment, “Oh! That’s such a pretty place to photograph!” Yes it is but it’s not the place that makes for great photographs it’s the mind and skills of the photographer. Believe me I’ve seen plenty of not so beautiful images made of the red rocks taken in less than stellar lighting conditions that impressed me not a bit. But have seen absolutely stunning photographs of the mundane such as Weston’s pepper image. Please don’t think you need to travel to exotic locations in order to create beautiful images. Start looking around closer to home to capture the unusual. Show ordinary subjects in extraordinary ways. It will push the creative envelope for you.
Edward Henry Weston a 20th-century photographer and has been called “one of the most innovative and influential American photographers…” and “one of the masters of 20th century photography.” Over his 40 year career Weston photographed an increasingly expansive set of subjects, including landscape, still life, nudes, portrait, genre scenes and even whimsical parodies. He truly worked by the thought shared in his quote. I’m finding the more I have my camera with me, made more convenient by using the smaller, lighter Micro 4/3rds format cameras from Lumix, the more I am finding interesting things in my world because I am able to capture an image immediately and explore it rather than think, “That might make an interesting photograph…” and never see the same lighting situation again.
What are you exploring in your world??
Yours in Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education
Our quote today comes from the world of writing. Author and poet William Thackeray uses his wordsmithing to help define what we do…
Isn’t it amazing what we can do with a camera?
“The two most engaging things about photography are to make new things familiar and familiar things new.”
William Thackeray
The power of photography is immense. Making something we see everyday beautiful or interesting. Or causing someone to see something as if for the first time. How about the social causes being advanced?
Ansel Adams and Galen Rowell with preserving nature. Minor White & Henri Cartier Bresson exploring black and white visions.
Richard Avedon and Gregory Heisler pushing portrait techniques.
Photographers working for the U.S. government’s Farm Security Administration (FSA) and later the Office of War Information (OWI) between 1939 and 1944 made approximately 1,600 color photographs that depict life in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The pictures focus on rural areas and farm labor, as well as aspects of World War II mobilization, including factories, railroads, aviation training, and women working.
You, in lighting and posing your people in a flattering manner that allows a person to see themselves as others do in the best light.
Think of the images you can create whether it be of beauty, horror, social issues or… You think. Share here how you are using your camera and image making skills for the greater good and if you are not is that something you might think about??
Yours in Photography, Bob
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by successfulbob | black & white, commercial photography, fine art musician portrait, graphic design, Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, musician photography, people photography, photography, photography education
If you follow my blog and life you’ll see that I’m a music fan. Photographing live music is something that I have been devoting myself to and adding in creating art for the musicians. When something like the Old Town Center for the Arts annual Blues Fest comes along I am in hog heaven. It gives me a chance to photograph and practice new techniques.
Tommy Dukes, Arizona Blues Hall of Fame member. Artistic Photoshop work from blues fest performance. Original capture with Lumix GX7 35-100.. 2.8 lens. Impressive Art filter. Layers and textures add to final art mix.
Did I say it gives me a chance to practice? I believe practicing is as important to photographers as it is to musicians, athletes or anyone else who needs to have the skill of working under pressure. Changing settings, working in new lighting (and often challenging) conditions is something you need to be able to work with almost without thinking so you can capture the essence of a performer. In this case I was playing with some of the presets in the camera and finding some cool looks. In order for you to access the camera pre-sets after downloading you need to capture the images as jpegs. For safety sake and to have all the info presented to the camera you can save as RAW plus jpeg.
Tommy was quite animated and his shirt added to the life of the performance. Capture with Impressive Art filter then layers of texture added to foreground and background.
Then I self assign creation of CD covers, music and musician art and share the ideas with the artists and their marketing people. This has led to being hired to do the work I enjoy. Hmm. Practice. Self assignments. Sharing. Marketing. People often ask me how I get the images I do and the work I want to do. Re-read the last paragraph again and you’ve got he answer. When are you starting your next personal project?
Pretty much straight out of the GX7 camera using the monochrome art setting. Pretty clean black and white!
Straight out of camera with the Impressive Art setting on the Lumix GX7
Yours in Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography education, success education
Being in business means more than just making money in the community. I feel a great part about being part of a community is being able to give back and support those who are doing good things or providing service ‘over and above’.
One way to bring that to other folks attention is by blogging and telling the world about good things you see. The Internet is full of people who share their bad experiences and spread negativity in their wake… I feel if we reward the positive more often that it will breed more positive behavior. One of the ways I share that is with my images and blog. When I run across something good happening I try to share it with as many people as possible. Here’s an example of a salute to a great employee at our Sedona Community Center.
Following the the post I make a copy and put it in a frame and give it to the business for display. It gets the person who is featured more exposure and lets them know they are appreciated.
Here is the 8×10 piece for display that also keep Bob Coates Photography name in front of people.
How does this help my business? In looking for stories I tend to have my camera with me all the time so I don’t miss anything. Having the camera all the time generates conversations about photography. Exposure for my business through people seeing the salutes, getting people to feel good about themselves and each other, more human interest material for my blog which helps with SEO. AND, people want to work with positive people… Start sharing the good things and see how it helps you.
Yours in Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | Lumix GH3, Lumix Lounge, people photography, photography, photography education, photography gear
Cobblers children go without shoes. Painters houses show peeling paint. You’ve seen the expressions in writing for the professionals not taking care of their own business because they are so busy taking care of others.
Don’t let your own personal look be the victim of this…
Make the commitment to get your head shot updated. When people see your head shot and wonder who the photo is of you gotta know it’s time for a new one. Here’s the way I remade mine. Ideally you might grab a photographer friend and shoot each others photo but when you are hanging out with a little time it’s time to work your own. While I did it I practiced with a lot of the new technology that’s available in the Lumix GH3. Learned some stuff along the way…
I used the facial recognition feature to make sure the photo was in focus. If you have tried to self portraits without this it can be very frustrating. I am pleased to say whether I moved forward, back or to the side during the shoot the focus was dead-nuts on!
Bob Coates head shot
Used the WiFi capabilities of the GH3 with my IPhone to fire the camera remotely. It’s pretty cool. You can see what the camera sees on the phone. The only problem with that part is when you try to pose and change position it’s like looking in a double mirror. There’s a tendency to move exactly opposite form what you think you are doing. After you get used to it it’s not too much of a problem. Obviously when it’s not you on the phone screen it’s pretty easy.
Why else would you want to use the WiFi connection? Transferring images to the web. Controlling your camera from a distance but still being able to see what the camera sees. Like not disturbing wildlife like birds or a watering hole where animals come to visit. I’m sure you can come up with many more…
Where’s your new head shot? Send me a link!
Yours in Photography, Bob
