by successfulbob | Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, photography, photography education, photography gear
Since I moved to the micro 4/3rds format I’ve been looking high and low for the right bag for my gear and finally found it in the form of a Think Tank Photo Bag. The one I choose is called the Mirrorless Mover 20 and is pretty close to perfect for my needs. It has a strong build with solid material and stitching. I even like the handle on the top for when the bag is not attached to my belt.
So here’s my kit these days for most outings. Lumix GX7 camera with Lumix Vario lenses of 7-14mm f4.0, 12-35mm f2.8, 35-70mm f2.8 and either a 25mm f1.4 or 45mm macro. The camera goes on my shoulder and the three other lenses and assorted gear go into the Think Tank bag on my belt. (the bag comes with a shoulder strap too if you prefer) If I’m changing lenses a lot a nice feature is the magnetic closure on the flap. When you need to really secure everything it’s time to use the zipper to close the compartment.
The bag will hold three lenses, extra SD cards, spare battery, battery charger, card reader, small flashlight and a tripod. (“A tripod you say??” Yes I do. See the ‘splainin’ at the bottom of the post) The bag also comes with its own raincoat rolled up inside in case you get caught in inclement weather conditions.
Never have I traveled so light with this range of lenses. Gotta tell you I’m one happy camper!
This is my travel kit. All gear is on the camera or in the Think Tank Photo bag.
Note the little tripod. It may not look like much but this tripod has helped to hold the camera steady in cathedrals in Europe and the woods in America. You can set this on the floor. Hold it against a wall. Put it on a chair or table. Once you think about it a bit you see it’s a great way to get support for your camera when you are traveling and need to go light sans big tripod or mono-pod.
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 | photography, photography education, success education
I’m a big fan of Roy Williams and the Monday Morning Memo. In this memo he writes about a word I see in many photographers’ descriptions of why they decided to get into the business. And, also why I feel so many don’t make it… Is this you?
The Follow-Your-Passion Myth
One of the books I’ll write someday is a collection of true stories gathered from extremely successful people.
My business as an advertising consultant and seminar speaker has put me face-to-face with many of the brightest stars in the entrepreneurial sky. And rarely do I miss the opportunity to ask them,
“Can you recall that fateful moment when you chose the fork in the road that led you to where you are today? How did you first get into this business?”
Never – not once – has a successful person said to me, “I followed my passion.”
But this is the answer you will hear again and again from people who are serving time in prison.
The world is full of rich people who are not, and never were, successful. People who stole the money, inherited the money, married the money, won the money in the stock market or in the lottery, cheated others out of the money or were awarded the money in court, do not qualify as “successful” in my admittedly subjective opinion.
The “Follow-Your-Passion” myth is pervasive because successful people are usually passionate. But those people would have been passionate about whatever they chose to do.
Their jobs don’t give them passion.
They give passion to their jobs.
The same is true in successful marriages.
Moon-eyed dreamers who say, “I just can’t find my passion” always act like I kicked their puppy when I tell them that passion is not a magical ether that can be located and tapped into. Passion is the shrapnel that flies from a three-way collision of determination, commitment and action.
While we’re at it, let’s pull the mask off a couple of other myths:
(1.) Passion doesn’t always manifest itself as happiness. Passion is also behind deep grief. (2.) Passion isn’t always confident. Worry is misguided passion, fearful passion, but it is passion nonetheless.
Don’t do what you’re passionate about.
Be passionate about what you do.
Don’t follow your passion.
Let your passion follow you.
Passion is created when determination and commitment are joined by the nitroglycerin of action. Leonardo da Vinci said it 480 years ago and he said it in Italian. Here is the clearest translation:
“People of accomplishment rarely sit back and let things happen to them. They go out and happen to things.”
Listen to Leonardo.
Go out and happen to something.
When we hear the laughter and the dancing,
the crying and the grief, we will know the shrapnel is flying.
Roy H. Williams
I highly recommend you subscribe to the Monday Morning Memo. A great way to start your week… get a taste of Roy here in this weeks Rabbit Hole… (It’s a place where, well, you have to spend time there to understand it. Click on the image of each page to drill down further and further)
