bob@bcphotography.com 928-300-0535 coatesart.net
Sometimes inspiration comes from different places…
Seeing what the Wilson sisters have done with the classic Led Zeppelin anthem Stairway to Heaven makes me want to create something special. Watch this video all the way through. It brought tears to my eyes…
“Look for the light!” is often shouted from the rooftops when telling new, and experienced, photographers how to create great images.
Today’s quote is from Trent Parke, an Australian photographer. He’s created photography books; won numerous national and international awards including four World Press Photo Awards; and his photographs are held in numerous public and private collections according to Wikipedia.
“I am forever chasing light. Light turns the ordinary to the magical.” Trent Parke
I have seen absolutely horrendous photographs of fabulous rock formations and exquisite images if mundane subjects.
What is the difference??
Light. And shadow.
I’ll give you a hint about finding that sweet light that makes images come alive with depth and dimension. Look for the the shadows that define the light. It is a change of mindset that I believe helped take my image making skills to a higher level. Think about shadow edge transition. It defines the light.
Deciding on the shadow can help set a mood. Soft shadow edge transitions help give shape and form and 3 dimensionality to your subject. Harsh shadow edge transitions can give an edgy harsh feel to an image, think sunlight at noon or a strong light source in a very low light situation.
I’ve found watching for the shadows makes it easier to find the ‘right’ light.
Go create some magic of your own…
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
I was interviewed about participation in imaging competition in a Podcast put together by Mark Oehler called The Twelve Elements. We chat about my imaging submissions from last year where I was fortunate to have five of my eight image entries be added to the PPA Loan Collection and the rest made it to the Merit category.
The next International Imaging Competition from Professional Photographers of America is coming up very shortly. Get your image entries ready. More PPA Competition information can be found here on the PPA web site.
I feel that participating in competition has helped to make me the photographer I am today.Even though I have my Master and Artist degrees from PPA I still entered again…
What are you doing to push yourself to make better images?
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
How often do you meet truly happy people?
Truly happy?
I’ve been staying at and attending events at the Hilton Phoenix Airport Hilton Hotel for the last 16 years so I get to know most of the people who work at the property. There are lots of standout, long term employees there. (AFAIK unusual in the service industry)
I was having a conversation with shuttle driver Nat about being happy. He shared that he was in the corporate world making good bucks, switched some stuff, got down-and-out sized and then decided to do something that made him happy rather than making him huge dollars. He’s been picking up and dropping off guests between the Phoenix Airport Hilton the Sky Harbor Airport for the last seven and a half years. I’ve seen him a lot in that time and never seen him without a big smile and a huge hello for me and everyone he comes in contact with.
Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel Bell Captain/shuttle-driver/ambassador Nat
“What’s your point, Bob?”
Point is there are lots of ways to make money with your camera.
Do YOU still enjoy what you do?
Or are you just workin’ for the dollar. Life is short. Make sure you enjoy the ride. And, if you need a smile come on down to the Hotel and say ‘Hey!’ to Nat.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
Sharing your knowledge with others is a form of service and I highly recommend it for helping to keep your face of perspective clients.
I have been writing a newspaper column to help the people in my community to create better photos when they are using their cameras. Several things happen when you think this way and share your knowledge… You give a hand to people. They see that something might be more difficult than they thought which helps to move people away from the thinking that creating a photograph is just pushing a button on the camera. And, you set yourself up as the expert.
Here’s an example of a recent published piece…
Article appeared in the Villager publication in Sedona, Arizona.
The important part from a marketing standpoint is the last piece that says, “Professional Photographer Bob Coates is a 16 year resident of VOC. To see more of his work check the web: Commercial, www.bcphotography.com; photography education, www.successful-photographer.com; artwork, 1-bob-coates.artistwebsites.com”
How are you marketing your business???
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
There are two new inductees into the Sound Bites Grill ‘Wall of Fame’.
The RD Olson Blues Band played last week and rocked (blued??) the house. High energy blues from this five piece band had people squirming in their chairs and out on the dance floor. My wife Holly and I really enjoyed the music along with the rest of the patrons.
R.D. Olson Blues Band
Images of the band members were captured with the Lumix GH4 and the 35-100mm Lumix Vario f2.8 lens. This camera and lens combo gives me the density range to capture the highlights of the LED lighting and the deep shadows that come with stage spotlights. In addition, the 200mm lens (35mm equivalent) allows me to isolate the individual performers without disturbing Sound Bites guests as I photograph the live performance.
After downloading the images I select each performer and move them to a master file for compositing of the group for the art piece. Shadows and Inner Glows using Adobe Photoshop on layers help to give the individuals depth in the image. Multiple photographs of textures are added and Blend Modes altered to add the color and painterly effects.
RD was also selected by Sound Bites to also be featured as a single artist in addition to being on the ‘Wall of Fame’ as part of the band.
RD Olson
Blues On RD!
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
Every week I go through photography art quotes I’ve collected of search the Internet for ideas to chat about here on Successful-Photographer. I forgot about this quote from Austin Kleon…
Austin Kleon is a New York Times bestselling author of three books: Steal Like An Artist; Show Your Work!; and Newspaper Blackout. Kleon’s works focus on creativity in today’s world.
Ask anybody doing truly creative work and they’ll tell you the truth: They don’t know where the good stuff comes from. They just show up and do their thing. Every day.” Austin Kleon
Key words in this quote? Every day.
Wanna be creative? Work at it. Play at it. Show up ready to try even when you might not think you’ve got it working.
Every day.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
I haven’t read these yet but just ordered them!
Steal Like An Artist Austin Kleon Show Your Work Austin Kleon
Talking with Mike Tabback on KAZM Radio on the Tech Talk Show. We chat about some techniques in photography and some of the new tech that Panasonic is putting into the cameras. 4K Photo Mode is making some new image captures possible that would have been more difficult to photograph than even a few years ago.
Tickled!
When I saw this sign in a local coffee shop in Lewes, Delaware it just got my funny bone.
“Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy.”
Love the thought!
Having a camera with you allows you to share fun with friends as well as business.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – No children were hurt during the production of this thought. I do not condone nor encourage the feeding of espresso to children or myself if it is too late in the day!
“Off to harass the birds again are you?”
My wife Holly calls it harrassing cause I used to have to get very close to the birds to fill the frame and they often would leave in a snit at being disturbed… I call it photography while I study and capture behavior images. I really enjoy photographing birds. At her parents place which looks over the marsh in Delaware I’ve plenty of subjects.
I was curious as to how the Lumix FZ1000 would perform and I gotta tell ya it ain’t bad at all. Having a 400mm f4.0 lens is quite good. I’m even more impressed with the ability of the digital zoom going to 1600mm. At that zoom range some detail it starts to soften but being able to fill the frame from a long distance is more than worth the trade-off. Here is a sequence to show the range of the camera…
Images made from the same position. To get to the digital zoom of 1600mm you must be in jpeg capture mode.
Still, with proper exposure I’ll take the reach over being able to shoot in RAW.
Osprey doing a flyby of her nest.
If I’m going to have one camera for vacation, or just to have at hand daily – that does almost everything I need – the Lumix FZ1000 is the one.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
For infrared conversion of my cameras I use LifePixel. Infrared allows you to put an older camera to use and opens up a new time time of day for productive image creation.
Learn Photoshop in a fun environment. Aaron Nace applies the right amount of fun with easy to understand and follow tutorials. Actions and brushes are included with lessons!
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Platypod has become a great resource for being creative in getting your camera gear easily into unusual places. As an Platypod Pro I get to work/play with the gear even before it comes out. Head over to Platypod, subscribe to the newsletter and you will get special discounts reserved only for subscribers.