by successfulbob | architectural photography, black & white, Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, photography, photography education
Having attended the PhotoPlus Expo in New York I had a chance to wander around the city making photos and seeing what my Lumix GX7 can do. The Impressive Art setting with the color balance set to black and white adds a purely graphic feel to the captured images. I’m not sure why, but it is a look that I am really enjoying. The high contrast, slight ghosting works well for me and it’s hard to replicate the out of camera look in post production. Let me know what you think…
Photographed with a single light coming down from the ceiling. One of the dancers from the Bar-Top Bandits was the model for this. The costume, the light and the art setting all work together. 1/25 sec; f/2.8; ISO 3200 LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8 lens
This was the view out my hotel window. I like all the shapes and forms from the architecture. 1/80 sec; f/2.8; ISO 200 LUMIX G VARIO 35-100/F2.8 at 35mm
In the Javitts Convention Center looking up. Very graphic! 1/500 sec; f/5.6; ISO 200 LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8 at 12mm 
Using a slightly different art setting in camera to distinguish the difference between the old and new. Brick buildings in the foreground and the Empire State Building in the background. 1/500 sec; f/5.6; ISO 200 LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8 12mm Impressive Art setting with the color WB cranked all the way up. This has a illustrative feel.
by successfulbob | Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, musician photography, photography, photography education
Photographing a musician in top form is a thrill. I photographed Link Linkin clarinet player, at Sound Bites Grill and worked up an image for the Sound Bites ‘Wall of Fame’. (see it here) Link saw it and asked to use it for his promotional materials on the web site and some 8×10′s. He asked for a few changes to make the image more generic and to clean up a couple distractions form the main subject. I was removing the SB logo and found it to be a little barren so after playing a bit I decided it would be cool to have Link’s name up in lights and he agreed. Small changes to a photograph in post production allow it to be used more effectively in promoting for different purposes.
I used the Lumix GX7 to make the photo. I gotta tell you that the extra dynamic range is really helpful when photographing live entertainment under LED lights… Especially when your entertainer is wearing a white jacket. The fact that you can fire off very fast bursts on the camera also allow the choice of very small changes that occur when a musician is in full movement to get the exact prime look at the right moment.
Here’s the final photo…
Clarinet player Link Linkin Live on stage photography & art treatment by Bob Coates Photography
by successfulbob | Lumix GH3, Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, panorama, photography, photography - art quote, photography education
Today’s quote I found while cruising Entrepreneur Magazine and it was in the editor’s note.
“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” Ralph Waldo Emmerson.
The editor talks of playfulness coming to a halt as we get older. As children we are happy to push a button to see what it does. We proudly display our artistic creations. We run and jump just because we can! Then as age and other people’s opinions begin to beat us down we become more conservative in what ways are willing to experiment with new things while trying to learn. In my Photoshop classes I have always exhorted people to play, play and play some more. Push a button and see what happens. Ask your self, “What if I do this?” Then do it. A mistake? Cool! You just learned something. Try again… And, again. Then comes the, “Wow, that looks cool!” moment when the button you pushed or new technique you tried is wonderful.
This is really hitting home for me as I move to the micro four thirds format with my Panasonic Lumix cameras. The GH3 AND GX7 have so many new features and possibilities it can be a little overwhelming. I kept trying to create a really good image without trying new things. But, as I started to take my own advice and try new settings, see what happens when I push this or tweak that I find the wonder that I had when I first started photography. It’s like having a darkroom in my hands. I’m more excited and energized than I have been in years. (and those who know me know I am always pretty excited about photography so it’s really saying something!) Am I making mistakes? Yep! But it doesn’t matter. As I make the mistakes I am learning new techniques, creating new looks in camera that I was never able to before. And, as I play I’m able to get more and more creative with my image making. How cool is that?
So even though you didn’t ask for it let me pass on a little advice… Be willing to fail because in failure you find your greatest, and quickest, learning curve.
Gregory Heisler Portrait Photographer I love this look straight out of camera. High contrast Black & White with a bit of glow around the darkest areas. This look has already sold to a couple clients! (Thanks to my fellow Lumix Luminaries for the tip to get me started with that one!)
In-camera panoramic stitching is a wonderful feature in the Lumix GX7 I’m having fun pushing it to limits. How well does it do in a moving person situation? That depends on how much the person is moving. If you get everyone relatively still it’s pretty cool… This is Frederick Van Johnson interviewing Kristen Jensen at the Lumix Lounge Live at PhotoPlus Expo in New York last week.
If you have a photo group and would like to have me or one of the other Luminaries speak it’s very possible Panasonic will cover the costs. You supply the venue and the photographers. Pick your subject and speaker and we’ll do the rest.
by successfulbob | Lumix GH3, Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, photography, photography education
PhotoPlus Expo in New York is quite a show. Been hanging out in the Lumix Lounge in booth number 137 and I gotta tell you it’s been pretty cool watching the live Internet broadcasts with the other Lumix Luminaries and the excitement with the people stopping by and chatting about the features of the GX7 and GH3 and the new GM1. Can’t believe they can get all the features of the first two cameras into one that’s a small as the GM1. It’s almost like a fashion accessory (read jewelry) that takes interchangeable lenses….
Here are some images of the Luminaries from the ‘set’ of booth #137. Come out and see Gulio Sciorio, Rob Knight and then myself today. If you can’t make it out you can catch the action here http://us.panasonic.com/lumixlounge #lumixlounge #panasonic #lumix #photoplusexpo
Lumix Luminary Kristen Jensen at PhotoPlus Expo
Lumix Luminary Suzette Allen on the set at PhotoPlus Expo New York
Ben Grunow interviewed by Frederick Van Johnson at PhotoPlus Expo New York
by successfulbob | Lumix GH3, Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, photography education
Looking forward to being in New York for the PhotoPlus Expo this week! I want to personally invite you to the Panasonic booth on the trade show floor Jacob Javits Convention Center in NYC, booth #137. We will be broadcasting live from the Lumix Lounge there. Various Lumix Luminaries will be interviewed by host Frederick Van Johnson Watch the Hangouts Live on Air at Google+ LUMIX
Here’s the schedule so far….
THURSDAY 10/24
10:30 – 11:30 am
MODERN COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY with Lumix Luminary Suzette Allen and guests
1:00 – 2:00 pm
SIMPLE MIRRORLESS MIGRATION with Lumix Luminary Kristen Jensen and guests
3:30 – 4:30 pm
MORE VIDEO WITH LESS CAMERA with Lumix Luminary Ben Gunrow and guests
FRIDAY 10/25
10:30 – 11:30 am
ANIMATED PORTRAITS with Lumix Luminary Giulio Sciorio and guests
1:00 – 2:00 pm
OUTDOOR AND ACTION SPORTS with Lumix Luminary Rob Knight and guests
2:30 – 3:30 pm
FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY with Lumix Luminary Bob Coates (hey that’s me!) and guests
SATURDAY 10/26
10:30 – 11:30 am
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY with Lumix Luminary Patrick Gerrity and guests
1:00 – 2:00 pm
WEDDINGS AND PORTRAITS with Lumix Luminary William Innes and guests
Follow Lumix on social media to get the latest updates on Lumix Lounge LIVE events. Facebook.com/LUMIX, Twitter @LUMIXUSA, and LUMIX on Google Plus
