Photography 24/7 » Inspiration

15 Fine Flickr Examples of Minimalism in Photography

Thomas — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 06:41:02 +0000

I have always enjoyed viewing good minimalist photographs.

Minimalist photography is a truly beautiful genre and many people might be surprised about how difficult it actually is to capture a successful minimalist image that works.

It’s certainly not as easy as a good minimalist photograph leads you to believe!

Minimalist photography emphasizes simplicity and objectivity and in essence minimalism is where the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features.

Phaidon has a good book on minimalism if you’re interested to learn more about minimalism as an art form.

For now, though, it’s time to sit back and enjoy these 15 fine flickr examples of minimalism in photography.

photo credit: andrewpaulcarr

photo credit: Giara

photo credit: Christopher Keach

photo credit: DorteF

photo credit: Brian Keathley

photo credit: christheobscure

photo credit: arnoKath

photo credit: Dirk Dallas

photo credit: Minimal Stuff

photo credit: Joe_Andrews

photo credit: Vix Walker

photo credit: Dr Max

photo credit: Iván Cabrera

photo credit: L.Bö

photo credit: lrargerich

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

National Geographic Photographer Bruce Dale: 30 Years of BAD Pictures

Thomas — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:49:59 +0000

Bruce Dale worked exclusively for National Geographic for 30 years. Bruce Dale’s assignments varied from undersea to aerial photography and from people to complex science subjects while working in over 75 countries.

With over two thousand photographs published by National Geographic, Bruce Dale’s vision and creativity twice earned him the title “Magazine Photographer of the Year.”

In 1989 he was named “White House Photographer of the Year” and more recently, his innovative work with digital imaging brought him honors from the Smithsonian Institution. In addition to many other awards, one of his photographs now journeys beyond the solar system on board NASA’s Voyager Spacecraft, as testimony about planet Earth.

One of his more memorable photos involved mounting two cameras on the tail of a Lockheed TriStar jumbo jet to make spectacular views of the big jet in flight. One, a 23 second time exposure, led to a three page gatefold in the Geographic – the other a cover on the magazine.

He considers his favorite images are those serendipitous moments totally alien to the well planned picture. “I actually plan on the unplanned picture in an attempt to capture the spontaneity and mood of the moment.”

Dale left National Geographic to pursue a blend of editorial and corporate and advertising photography. His book, The American Southwest, was published by National Geographic in January of 1999.

Watch this interview with Bruce Dale where he discusses some of his more memorable photos – includng his famous jumbo jet shot – from what is a very impressive portfolio spanning 30 years.

And then for a more relaxed presentation, sit back and watch this beautiful video by Bruce Dale titled “Aurora in Winter” (if you’re in the northern hemisphere this might just cool you down a bit in the middle of a warm summer).

For more on Dale’s work take a look at his website: www.brucedale.com.

In the Selected Photos section, you’ll find links to some interesting photos and how they were made.

You can find many interesting books and DVDs published by the National Geographic. Here are some of my favourite and recommended National Geographic publications:

P.S. For a full assortment of National Geographic products you might also want to have browse through the National Geographic Store.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Mini Profile: Laura Burlton

Thomas — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:00:28 +0000

Part of living a photographic life and developing your photography often comes from finding seeds of inspiration amongst your peers. In essence this is how creativity works; one idea leads to another and a little seed blossoms into its own unique flower. The mini profiles at Photography 24/7 is a new content series which aims to uncover creative and talented photographers that you may not have come across before, and with the hope that you come away with a little seed of inspiration.

Laura Burlton

Meet Laura Burlton from Houston, Texas, USA.

As you will no doubt notice from the following photos, and certainly if you explore Laura’s work in more depth, Laura loves photography and as she says herself: “Always have. Always will.” Laura’s father taught her how to use his SLR when she was just 10. A couple of years later he had to get Laura her own camera. She was smitten by photography at a young age.

Laura thinks of herself as an artist and consider photography to be just another medium. She is also a trained painter, sculptor and illustrator, so creative endeavours lie close to hear. However photography remains her primary creative pursuit. Laura’s photography has been published in various books and magazines and she has also had her work showcased in galleries in Houston, Texas where she lives and as far away as Canada, Austria and Spain.

And as you’ll discover she is of the view that “you can never have too many toy cameras!”

1. Your dad taught you to use a SLR camera when you were around the age of 10. How much, if any, has he been an influence on your photography as you developed through your childhood years? Have other people influenced your style of photography?

My dad just planted the seed. He was a keen amateur, but not as much into the art or business of it. We always had a camera around though and he loved to take photos. I still remember the old polaroid land camera my parents had, i must have been about 3 or so then. I like the magic of the image appearing after just a minute or so. I also liked the little square photos that resulted.

I have had many influences in my photography throughout the years. I think Sarah Moon was one of the first people whose work really spoke to me. It is just so ethereally beautiful.

Other people who have really helped to shape and mentor me are Amy Blakemore and Will Michels, both of whom I have had as instructors and I count as friends.

Wedding photography by Laura Burlton

2. You have used toy cameras for many years now. What sparked your interest in toy cameras and what makes them so much fun to use?

I was introduced to medium format toy cameras by Amy Blakemore. One day she brought out all kinds of different types of cameras in class and since i wanted to shoot something on bigger film and could not even contemplate purchasing a hasselblad, I bought a holga. It was the beginning of a love affair. I remember ordering it from Main Photo Workshops and then looking online at different peoples work, of which there was not too much around. David Niles had some work up that just blew my mind so I then called all over town looking to see if I could buy a holga right then and there. Found one for twice the price as I had paid online, but it was worth every single penny and I still had the other one coming. You can never have too many toy cameras! I had also been introduced to lomo cameras a few years before this and owned a few of them, but I will say my love of photography and it’s overwhelming impact on my life started the day I got that holga. Before that it was just a hobby. After, an all consuming passion.

3. Your ‘Dreams in Chalk’ series is incredibly beautiful, creative and unique. How did you come up with the idea for this series?

You know, I guess I was trying to do something with stars. First I tried cutting a bunch of them out and hanging them up with fishing line, but they kept moving….Next I decided to draw them with chalk as there was always some sidewalk chalk laying around. Then I started to get all sorts of ideas. I love fairytales and had worked with those sort of themes before and it really just made sense to draw these little vignettes. Plus, I guess it was another way to use my other artistic talents and combine them with my photography.

"Dancing on the moon" by Laura Burlton

4. You also shoot weddings and have a beautiful wedding portfolio. I can’t imagine a much more high pressure situation than shooting someone’s wedding – how do you deal with this kind of pressure? And how much do you let your clients direct you with regards to your ‘creative freedom’ on how to shoot their wedding?

I approach weddings in a totally different manner than I do my fine art work. On the one hand I try to be as artsitic as possible with the parameters given to me, but really I am there to tell someone elses story, to document the love that a couple feels for each other and the joy of a wedding celebration. I have to check my ego at the door on this one. I love to get the artistic shots, but I really also have to be true to the couple who have entrusted me to capture their day. One day I would really like to shoot half of a wedding with a holga or something, but until Texas cools down and starts having nice daytime weddings, that is not gonna be too feasable to the way I shoot holgas! I will happily travel though, so if you know some cool people who want their wedding shot with a holga in a more hospitable climate, I will gladly travel!

Wedding photography by Laura Burlton

5. If you could travel to any destination tomorrow, where would you go and what would you like to photograph?

Thats a hard one! My passion is photographing people. I think I would like to follow an old style traveling circus, preferably with a sideshow. The stranger the better. Elephant riders, contortionists, clowns… think something like a circus from the first half of the last century. That would be wonderful.

6. If one of your photographer friends was in a bit of a creative-rut and was looking for a quick fix, and you were asked to recommend a photography accessory and/or a photography book which you think could open up his or her vision, what would you suggest?

I think they should buy a holga and work on just shooting light and composition, not worrying so much about controls and the technical aspects of photography. I would also suggest they try looking at Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity By Michelle Bates. I am a contributor to the book.

[Thomas: Thank you Laura for participating in this mini profile and sharing your work.]

You can view more of Laura Burlton’s beautiful work at her website: www.lauraburlton.com and at her blog www.lauraburlton.com/blog.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Ooops! Sorry, there are no related articles yet…

15 Fine Flickr Examples of Abstract Photography

Thomas — Wed, 26 May 2010 09:00:05 +0000

Following on from the interview with abstract photographer Lester Hayes yesterday I thought it would be relevant with an instalment of 15 Fine Flickrs focused on abstract photography.

Curated from just under 1500 photos the following 15 images by 15 different talented photographers display some absolutely beautiful abstract qualities which I hope you will enjoy.

My hope with the 15 Fine Flickr series is that you take some inspiration away from them and in this case I hope you will be inspired to go out and do some abstract photography. It’s not as easy to do successfully as some might think…

Fine Flickr by NMCIL ortiz domney

Fine Flickr by See-ming Lee

Fine Flickr by mikeyexists

Fine Flickr by David Paul Ohmer

Fine Flickr by ana loncar

Fine Flickr by future15pic

Fine Flickr by flash200

Fine Flickr by Michael in San Diego, California

Fine Flickr by Urban Hafner

Fine Flickr by NyTrate

Fine Flickr by Alan Tippins

Fine Flickr by Sarabbit

Fine Flickr by deqalb

Fine Flickr by The artist (formerly) known as Gene

Fine Flickr by Kevin Pelletier

If you would like to leave a comment to any of the above images you’re of course most welcome to do so in the comment box below, or you can click on any of the images and leave a comment directly for the photographer on their respective flickr account.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Mini Profile: Eva Polak

Thomas — Sun, 16 May 2010 11:39:36 +0000

Eva Polak

Meet Eva Polak from Auckland in New Zealand.

Eva is passionate about impressionist photography. It is a style that seeks to capture a feeling or experience rather than to achieve an accurate representation. As a traditional photographer Eva first found that a really difficult concept to grasp, but when she attended a workshop called The Art of Impressionist Photography this all changed.

Eva saw images stripped of all unnecessary detail was immediately fascinated and excited, finding the images extremely evocative. Eva has since gone on to create an amazing body of work of ‘impressionist photographs’ and even teaches her own workshops about this alternative approach to traditional photography.

1. You are passionate about ‘impressionist photography’ – how did you come across this style of photography and what attracted you to it?

I was introduced to impressionist photography in October 2007. I was attending a workshop called The Art of Impressionist Photography where I saw images stripped of all unnecessary detail. Just simple shapes, textures and colours that sent my mind into a realm of wonder and discovery.

With this style of photography I feel complete freedom to explore fugitive effects of light.

2. Can you give other photographers who might want to explore this type of photography a few basic starting points? And while you shoot a variety of subjects using this technique do you find certain subjects suit this technique better than others?

This style is highly experimental, so set your camera to shutter priority mode, choose a shutter speed of 1/10s, experiment and have fun.

Between Dreams by Eva Polak

3. How do you stay creative and come up with new ideas or projects? Can you share some thoughts about your creative process?

I have fun, listen to music, watch movies, go to a gallery and read books. Inspiration comes from many different sources. I try to keep my mind open and spontaneously react to what’s around me.

4. You have an upcoming exhibition “Tides of Light” in Devonport, New Zealand. Can you tell us a little bit about how that came to fruition?

This is my personal journey through Auckland’s west coast, the land of ever-changing colour and light. To show the subtle moods and hidden emotions of a place where land, meets sea, meets sky, from dawn to dusk, from spring to winter.

Birch Tree by Eva Polak

5. If you could travel to any destination tomorrow, where would you go and what would you like to photograph?

Western Australia to photograph display of spring wildflowers.

To have some fun. There is also one book called The war of art: break through the blocks and win your inner creative battles by Steven Pressfield.

Land of Gentleness by Eva Polak

[Thomas: Thank you Eva for participating in this mini profile and sharing your work.]

You can view more of Eva’s work on her website: www.evapolak.com

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

10 Ways to Kickstart Your Creativity

Thomas — Sun, 02 May 2010 11:46:11 +0000

Everyone gets stuck in a rut once in a while. Sometimes it can be difficult to find your way back on the creative path again.

Here are 10 ways to kickstart (and maintain) your creativity.

1. Journal

Get yourself a notebook and start journaling. I use a small notebook because it is easy to carry with me wherever I go, but any notebook will do. Some people like to use bigger notebooks with lots of space on each page, but I find it limits me in always carrying it with me.

Write down your ideas, dreams, problems, visions, compositions and rambling thoughts as they come to mind. Don’t delay, because thoughts are often very fleeting.

I use the legendary Moleskine ruled pocket notebooks for my journaling together with this very cool and compact Ion Gel Ink Cross pen. Both work great for me as I can carry them with me anywhere.

2. Fresh Input

The mind needs stimulation. Your sensory input gets stored in memory. By giving your mind fresh inputs on a daily basis your memories get triggered and combined with the new input. This can help generate new ideas and new perspectives.

How do you get new input? Do something new each day. Listen to different radio stations, take a new route to work or when you walk the dog, read or borrow different books or magazines, take a stroll through a shopping centre. Keep your eyes and ears open – and taste, touch and smell things.

3. Relax and Unwind

Listen to music while lying on the floor. Sit outside in the sunshine and do nothing. Lie in the green grass and look at the clouds drift by. Take a stroll, ride your bike or go for a swim. It’s important to give yourself some down time where you can unwind and let your subconscious mind do its work. Getting new ideas in the shower or while you are driving may sound like a cliché, but it happens all the time.

Find your way back on the creative path. Image by Thomas Folke Andersen

4. Learn to Draw

Use Betty Edwards’ book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain to teach yourself to draw. It’s a wonderful book and you will learn skills applicable to problem solving and enhancing your perception of the world. In fact many of the techniques discussed in ‘Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain’ applies to photography as well.

5. Associational Thinking

The mind stores information by association. The inputs described under ‘Fresh Input’ above can trigger associations.

To demonstrate associational thinking, try to write the word ‘happiness’ in the middle of a sheet of paper and draw lines radiating out from the word. Then write down your thoughts on what the concept of ‘happiness’ means to you. You can it a step further and ask other people to do the same exercise and then compare results. This exercise can be particularly useful to generate ideas for conceptual pictures.

6. Challenge Yourself

Give yourself a new challenge each week. Work on a new problem each week, explore something new with the purpose of solving it or generating ideas. Give yourself regular photo assignments. Challenge yourself to photograph something new.

You may even take on a project. I have done projects like “52 weeks, 52 photos” and August Snaps with the sole purpose of challenging myself creatively.

7. Limit Yourself

One exercise you can do today is limiting yourself to photograph in one area for a certain period of time.

Go to a location that presents a reasonable amount of photo opportunities. This could be the local playground in your area, your local park or nature reserve or perhaps even the local car park. Bring a watch and then time yourself to photograph for one hour.

Keep photographing for a full hour. Continue shooting even if you think you have exhausted all possibilities after 30 minutes. Don’t worry about ‘mistakes’ or ‘failures’ (there really is no such thing) but push yourself to go further, try new angles, low view points, high view points, tight views, wide views etc.

You’ll be surprised just how many creative and interesting images you’ll return after this exercise. Investing time in a location is one of the easiest ways for you to become more creative, to look deeper and see old elements in new ways!

Take a walk through the creative forest. Image by Thomas Folke Andersen

8. Learn a New Photoshop Technique Every Week

While Adobe Photoshop is only a tool to help refine your own personal vision, it’s still a creative tool that can help expand your creative horizon. The more you know about Photoshop, the more creative possibilities are available to you in post-processing and achieving your own personal vision. Additionally a speedy post-processing work-flow also equals less time in front of the computer and more time in the field.

An excellent ressource for Photoshop training (and lots of other software program training) is Lynda.com.

9. Study the Geniuses

You can benefit by learning from the lives, ideas and actions of the great geniuses of history. Adopt a role model – maybe Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, Einstein, T. S. Eliot, Thomas Edison and find out more about them and their lives.

Photographically the geniuses of history could be (but are certainly not limited to) photographers like Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Eliot Porter, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Sudek, André Kertész, Edward Weston, Yousuf Karsh etc. etc. It can be whoever you personally admire in the history of photography.

Here are some ‘genius’ books to consider:

10. Create Your Own Inspiration Files

If you’re anything like me you enjoy reading photography magazines as a source of inspiration. And if you’re like me, you’re also likely to have a lot of them lying around and have hard time getting yourself to throw perfectly good magazines out.

However the reality is that it’s usually only some of the articles that interest you in each magazine and 30-40-50 percent of magazines are ads anyway. Instead of throwing good magazines out, go through them, tear out the pages and articles that interest you and organize them into files. I simply use affordable, spiral-back portfolios with 40 plastic sleeves per folder which are available from my local stationers. It reduces the clutter, gives me a number of files packed with photography and articles that interest me.

I have written a whole separate blog entry on creating inspiration files which you may wish to read as well.

So there you have it, 10 ideas to kickstart (and maintain) your creativity. However these are of course only 10 ideas out of many available.

If you have any other ideas to kickstart your creativity that you would like to share, then please feel to share and discuss these in the comments fields below.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

15 Fine Flickr Examples of Long Exposure Photography

Thomas — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:24:54 +0000

After sifting through 71 pages of long exposure photography on flickr (that’s a total 1420 images!) I’m pleased to present another instalment of 15 Fine Flickr Examples.

There is an incredible amount of long exposure images of car light trails around – both good ones and bad ones. As fun as it is to make long exposures of car light trails at night, it has also become somewhat of a cliche within this genre of photography, and so in my search for long exposure images for this series I tried for the most part to steer clear of the car light trails.

I hope the following set of images by 15 different talented and creative photographers will inspire you to slow down your shutter speed and experiment with long exposure photography.

If you’re new to the world of long exposure photography I can highly recommend either The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography by Lee Frost or Night and Low-Light Photography by Jill Waterman.

For now, though, you can just sit back, sip your coffee and enjoy 15 fine flickr examples of long exposure photography.

Photo by brentbat

Photo by Mike.Hanlon

Photo by Nikolai O.

Photo by Michael Keen

Photo by Majii1

Photo by mikebaird

Photo by Paul Alsop

Photo by SpeakerX

Photo by John Wardell (netinho)

Photo by Touzeen Hussain

Photo by Jesper Egelund

Photo by mugley

Photo by Insight Imaging: John A Ryan Photography

Photo by CowGummy

Photo by karlequin

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Always Carry A Camera

Thomas — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:52:56 +0000

The idea of always carrying a camera is not new. Many people carry a camera with them every day and have been doing so for years. There are daily photoblogs all over the internet.

One might argue that always carrying a camera lends itself to a certain shooting style, a style that is more documentary in nature. Street photography.

Recently I have become more and more interested in the idea of always carrying a camera. Up until recently I have always set aside specific time for photography. I would plan when and where I would go to photograph. I would then carefully pack my camera bag and drive to my location. Only then would I let the subject come to me.

This is in contrast to grabbing the camera on your way out the door to the local corner store, to work or wherever you might be going and then be at the ready if a subject presents itself as you go through your day.

In August 2009 I gave myself a personal challenge to carry my Canon G9 (since replaced by Canon with the Canon G11) with me in order to make photographs every day. This resulted in my August Snaps project. The images that I derived from this project were hardly coherent, but the project led to several images I’m very pleased with today such as this one.

My growing interest in the idea of always carrying a camera could very well be a function of lack of time to set aside specifically for photography. Since becoming a father about 17 months ago life has changed, and time has become a scarce resource for me. Don’t get me wrong though. There are many other things that attracts me about the idea of always carrying a camera with me.

In this video Jay Maisel just about sums it up with these little nuggets of gold:

If I carry a camera I never have to go out shooting, I’m always out shooting.

The serendipity of not knowing what I’m going to shoot is what keeps me going.

To me if I go out and there is something I have to shoot, that’s almost like a job. But if I go out and I have no idea what I’m going to shoot, that’s like an adventure.

Watch the video for yourself and gleen a few more wise words from the great Jay Maisel.

I’d also highly recommend that you listen to Ibarionex Perello’s recent interview with Jay Maisel over at The Candid Frame.

The idea of always carrying a camera with you have also recently been popularised by Chase Jarvis and his work with the Apple iPhone. Chase Jarvis has just published a new book titled:

The Best Camera Is The One That's With You by Chase Jarvis

I have been inspired by Chase Jarvis’ encouragement to use your mobile phone camera more often to make pictures. Consequently I made this photo with my camera phone recently in Bangkok Airport on my way to celebrate Christmas back in Denmark:

It’s not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but I was intrigued by the strong lines in the window combined with the complex reflections in each of glass sections of the window. I simply decided to make a capture of what I saw. It was easy, convenient and straight forward. Who said technology is not fascinating?

Anyway, I recommend that you check out Chase Jarvis book for yourself The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You: iPhone Photography by Chase Jarvis to get inspired to make photos with your mobile phone camera.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Interview with Ibarionex R. Perello

Thomas — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:30:42 +0000

Ibarionex is a photographer, writer and educator with nearly 20 years of experience in the photo industry. His images and articles have been published in magazines such as Digital Photo Pro, Shutterbug and Outdoor Photographer. He currently teaches at The Art Center College of Design and BetterPhoto.com. He is the host and producer of the popular podcast, The Candid Frame. Ibarionex lives in Los Angeles, California.

Ibarionex and I live on the opposite sides of the world, so I have never met Ibarionex in person, yet I feel like I know him. He comes across as a kind and generous man.

I do know for certain that he is deeply passionate about photography and sharing his knowledge about photography with others.

You only have to listen to one of his podcasts at The Candid Frame to realise that this is a kind and generous man behind the microphone. His voice is soft and velvety, and it somehow transcends kindness and generosity. It’s the kind of voice that belongs to a gentleman, the kind of man who holds the door for a lady.

Ibarionex’ passion for photography – and his generosity – is very much reflected in his work on The Candid Frame podcast (and in this interview as I’m sure you’ll notice). The Candid Frame spans three years now and it’s a completely free resource for photographers who want to listen to top quality photography content. The show features a wide variety of individual photographers and focuses on the creative side of photography rather than on the equipment and technical side of photography.

The Candid Frame makes Ibarionex a master contributor to the international photo community and thanks to the internet he is reaching out to photographers all over the world with a listenership that has grown into the thousands.

If you don’t already know The Candid Frame I’d highly recommend that you go and check it out. It’s an awesome and hugely inspiring photography podcast.

Of course Ibarionex is not all about The Candid Frame only. He is a tremendously talented photographer in his own right and you can view some his beautiful work on his website and blog referred to with links in this interview.

It’s time to make yourself a good cup of coffee and just sit back and relax while you enjoy this interview with Ibarionex R. Perello.

1. Ibarionex, first of all thank you for taking the time for this interview! You’re slowly closing in on 100 really interesting photographer interviews at The Candid Frame after close to three years of doing this. It’s my understanding that The Candid Frame is a labour of love project for you for which many of us are very grateful. How did you get the idea to The Candid Frame and what has kept you going with it for the past three years?

At the time I was the associate editor for Outdoor Photographer, PC Photo and Digital Photo Pro magazines and one of the things that I really enjoyed writing were the profile articles on photographers. These were the most interesting to write and I always enjoyed having the opportunity to talk to great photographers about their craft. I had also started listening to podcasts and began to listening to any and all revolving around photography.

However, I quickly grew frustrated that the shows I was listening to seemed to focus more on equipment and photography. I realized that I knew how to interview people and I had access to photographers and had the passion to make it happen and so I did.

It took me a short time to learn the basics of recording and editing audio and uploading them for distribution as a podcast. I’m still a work in progress when it comes to audio production, but I think the content of the show, particularly the emphasis on why and how photographers make their images, provides a great source of inspiration to the thousands of people who listen to the podcast.

2. You have interviewed a diverse group of photographers over the years and each photographer has of course had their own interesting stories to tell. However, are there any particularly fascinating stories or anecdotes that have stuck with you from your interviews over the years that you can share with us here?

I take away so much from every photographer that I have the opportunity I interview. I’m often very selfish in terms of why I choose someone. It’s often spurred by what I feel I myself want to learn, which will help my own work or career. Thankfully, it seems to be something that really resonates with everyone who listens to the show.

But I think my favorite interview has to be with Joel Meyerowitz, a legendary photographer and one of my favorites. That interview came about by chance while I was visiting a photographer friend of mine who mentioned he was attending a signing by Joel that night. I changed my plans for the evening and went and after the event approached Joel about appearing on the show. His time was limited but he said I could come by his hotel the next morning.

By grace and luck, he was less than 10 minutes from my office near Santa Monica and we sat pool side and had one of the most enlightening and inspiring conversations I’ve ever had about photography. The man opens his mouth and gems come out. If people only listen to one show, I think it’s the episode with Joel Meyerowitz. It’s one I’m very proud of.

3. Have you got any future plans for The Candid Frame that you can share here? New directions, new format? Are you likely to be able to continue the podcasts in the years ahead?

I celebrate three years in February and I have no intention of slowing down. The opportunity to interview and speaking with both legendary and emerging photographers really feed my soul and my passion for photography. I can’t imagine not doing the show. So, I’ll likely be buried with a mic in one hand and a camera in another.

This year, the focus of the show was “living a photographic life”, which was meant to reveal how different photographers define that for themselves. It’s been an interesting focus. Next year, I’m dedicating the year to personal projects, primarily long term projects that the photographers have chosen dedicate themselves to. Some will be published work, but others will likely be work that is extremely personal as well.

It will provide me an opportunity to delve a little more into individual photographs and the stories behind them, something that the show hasn’t done a lot to date.

Besides that I’m looking into making some changes to the site and further improve the audio.

4. Shooting with Alas is another relatively new project of yours – can you tell us a little bit about what that’s about as well as your involvement with Alas Media?

Alas Media is a multi-media company which I started with several friends. We produce a variety of content for numerous companies in the form of videos, websites, graphics and photography. We also have a division which is dedicated to education and regularly speaks on conferences around the world about the role of technology (computers, video, and photography) in the classroom.

As I had access to a top-notching video production crew, I came up with the idea of producing a video podcast. As with The Candid Frame, I looked at most of the video podcasts about photography and wasn’t impressed by what I saw. So, I came up with the idea for Shooting with Alas, which would be an instructional podcast about photography. The difference was that I would focus on telling the story of an interesting subject. So, each episode focusing on a particularly technique or product and how I use it to resolve a particularly photographic challenge. I think the last two episodes are representative and where we want to go with show. Video is much more of a challenge though because there is so much more to do to produce a show, but I’m hoping that beginning in November, we’ll be able to produce a show once a month.

5. You have interviewed many fine photographers, but you’re obviously a very fine and accomplished photographer in your own right as well as a great writer and educator. How do share your time and passion between photography, writing and educating today?

I teach photography through BetterPhoto, an online photography school which it’s been my pleasure to be associated with. I teach several classes there including a class called “Portrait Photography Using Available Light” and a new course, I call the “Pursuit of Light” which allows me to share how I see and use light for many of my images.

I am also an adjunct professor at the Art Center College of Design. I periodically still write freelance articles for magazines and do some photographic workshops such as the one that I was doing recently in New York City, this past Halloween weekend.

I love sharing what I know about photography. There is something that is very special about sharing my passion and knowledge of image-making. Besides the magic that happens when I make what I know to be a great photograph, there is something very unique about seeing the look in a photographer’s eye when they’ve realized that they’ve learned something that will really change not only the way they shoot, but the way they see. That’s what I like to emphasize. If I can help you refine the way you see, I can help you to become a better photographer. There’s no greater gift that one photographer can give another.

6. In ‘Shooting with Alas’ you show us examples of how to photograph using both natural light and flash with stunning results. Are you taking on commissioned portraits and commercial work as part of your photography business?

It’s where I want to take my business. Most of my work has not revolved around portraiture and people photography, though most of my personal work certainly has. In the last few months, I’ve been promoting my approach to photographing people to my clients and hope to make it a larger portion of my business. I recently produced a pro-bono project for the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, which is where I learned photography. I produced these images of the children and staff, which emphasized the relationships that are developed and nurtured there. It’s was my way of giving back and provided me the opportunity to shoot in the way that I love. I had full creative control and the results were something that both I and they were thrilled with. It was portraiture mixed in with sort of documentary style, which I want to do more of.

I’m not much of a studio photographer and see myself more of a street-shooter. I love just being thrown out there and seeing what I can make happen with the camera. Creating opportunities where I can get paid well for that, well, that’s the challenge, but I’m hopeful that given time and a good dose of persistence, I can make it happen.

7. On your website www.ibarionex.com you have a very beautiful portfolio of ‘Writers & Poets’. How did this project come into being?

I had always wanted to photograph people in a more formal portrait setting, but was incredibly shy about doing so. I had a lot of anxiety about it. I was in a writing fellowship and eventually got up the nerve to ask some of my fellow writers whether I could make their photographs. I made them and at the end of the program, I shared these 13×19 prints with them.

One of the writer’s husbands was a gallery owner who offered to exhibit me in his new gallery. I told him that I had only those few images and he said, “Well, shoot some more.” He told me the gallery was opening the next month. My first reaction was to say no, but then I thought better of it and agreed. So within a span of 30 days, I produced over 25 portraits of established writers and poets based in Southern California including legendary writers such as Hubert Selby.

It was crazy. I was shooting every weekend, sometimes as many as five different subjects on a single day. I had no crew and no assistants. It was just me, a camera and a reflector. It was exhausting for gratifying. I printed the images on an Epson inkjet printer that Epson was kind enough to lend to me for the project. It was my first one-person show and it was a real thrill to see people in the gallery admiring work that I had created in a very short time span. It was hectic and crazy to produce that many portraits in such a finite time, but I’m so glad I did. I got me over my fear of photographing people.

8. Looking through your ’Writers & Poets’ portfolio is strikes me that in many of the images your subjects are very closely connected to the setting from a design point of view. It makes these images very complete, and gives them both depth and mood but also adds to the story about your subject. Do you plan these settings prior to a shoot, or do you work out the setting on the spot depending on weather, the colours of your subject’s clothing etc? Can you share some tips on selecting a setting for portrait work?

There was no planning involved beyond my scheduling a time to meet the photographers in their homes. Often times, it was the first time I had met them. As soon as I would arrive, I would begin talking to my subject explaining what I was doing and why. But at the same time, I was looking around the house trying to find both a great source of light and setting for the image. I was multi-tasking like a fiend. Once I found the location, I would position my subject but continue my dialog with them. So, as I began shooting, it became a natural progression of our conversation. I would keep them focused on me and our talk rather than the camera. It allowed me to capture them in a pretty natural state, without the stiffness and formality of a lot of other portraiture. I often shot them as I found them, rarely asking them to change their clothes or outfit. It was always a little nerve wrecking not knowing what I was going to do before hand, but once I found what would work, I just got into the groove and made my images. I was often in and out within 45 minutes.

In terms of a tip, that’s easy. Pay attention first to the light and then your background. Those two things alone can and will transform your portraits.

9. You also have a very striking portfolio titled ‘Commute LA’ which is very documentary in nature and in black and white. How did you get the idea to this project and can you tell us a little bit about what sort of equipment you used for this series as well as how you went about shooting these photos?

I live in Altadena, California which is just north of Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl. At the time, I was working in Brentwood which is about 30 miles away. In a car, the commute was brutal. It could take anywhere between 2.5 – 3 hours round-trip to go to and from work. I finally burned out on driving and chose to take public transportation for a while. It added more time to my commute, but I was grateful to not have to be behind the wheel. I could read, listen to music, even nap on occasion.

After a few weeks, I decided to start making images of my commute. It was more something else for me to do rather than a project that I intended anything with. So, I began shooting using an Olympus Camedia 5050, but I would also use other cameras that I might have been testing for review for a magazine article, but I think the great majority were with the Olympus.

The social dynamic on a bus or a subway is an interesting one. People are in much closer physical proximity to each other than they would ever be in a normal situation, but there is a mental distance that’s appreciably greater that is happening. Everyone is in their own world, despite the fact that they may be in direct physical contact with another human being. It’s a strange dynamic and I found it fascinating to try and document. I was often shooting when the bus was at stop, because getting a sharp picture while in motion could be pretty difficult.

10. Your website www.ibarionex.com features mostly your portrait work and documentary work, but you obviously shoot a large variety of images which can be seen on your blog www.lafotoboy.blogspot.com including a large number of simplistic or minimalistic type images with a very strong sense of design and excellent use of colour, lines, light and shadow. Can you talk a little bit about the work shown on your blog?

My blog is more representative of my personal work, which is the street photography that I have focused on. I always have my camera with me. I never leave my house without it. So, the images on my blog demonstrate the way I see the world with my camera. I began the blog as a “shoot an image a day” project about four years ago. It really helped get my past a “shooting block” I had when I wasn’t making as many personal photographs as I would have liked. But the work on my blog has kind of captured my progression as a photographer particularly when it comes to my approach to using light, gesture and color (an expression made famous by photographer, Jay Maisel).

Shooting every day really opened my eyes to what was “photo-worthy”. Sometimes, I only had 15 minutes to make an image and I would find myself considering photographing things I would ignored before. It really helped to teach me that if I allow myself to be led by the light, rather than making judgments about the worthiness of a photographic subject, I could discover an amazing world that otherwise would have been invisible to me. Suddenly, anything and everything could become a remarkable photograph.

11. We all have ups and downs in photography and I know the creative process of photography interest you a lot. What advice can you give to someone who is lacking photographic inspiration and needs to get their creative juices flowing again?

Just get out of the house and be willing to make bad photographs. If you give yourself permission to do that, the pressure is off to be perfect every time you raise the camera to your eye. What’s important is the process, the processing of seeing and making the photographs. It’s called an “artistic practice” for a reason. You have to do it over and over and over again to get any good at it. Remember, all photographers, even the greatest among us, make mostly bad photographs. The key is they became great only by showing the good ones. But you have to make tens of thousands, hundred of thousands of images in order to learn to become a better photographer. Books and videos and even podcasts are great inspiration, but it’s only when you out there doing it which will make any difference whatsoever on your skills as a photographer.

12. Finally, I haven’t quite yet developed a traditional ending question for my interviews, but in YOUR case I would like to ask you this, if you were to recommend ONE photographer for other people to explore and discover, who would that be for you and why?

Hmmm, I wonder where you got that question from? I would suggest discovering Harry Callahan, a photographer who is often more known among photographers, but not the general public. He documented both his family and was also a great street photographer. He was a great influence on photographers who were to become more famous for similar work in the sixties and seventies. It’s a great reminder that great photographs are a result of the way you see rather than the equipment you are using. He didn’t have the benefit of today’s digital technologies, but rather slower speed films and manual cameras, but the images, by any measure are remarkable and inspiring, even 50 years later.

[Note by Thomas: I personally own the book Harry Callahan: The Photographer at Work which is a truly beautiful photography book featuring many of Callahan's stunningly beautiful images. A great recommendation.]

If you have been inspired by Ibarionex please note that he has also produced a DVD titled “Digital Photography – Available Light and Flash” which is available for purchase through the Alas Media website.

In this DVD Ibarionex teaches you how to use simply techniques of seeing and controlling light to transform your digital photographs.

For more details simply follow the title link above or click on the image on the left which will take you to Alas Media where you can also view a trailer from the DVD.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Face to Face with a Predator

Thomas — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:24:06 +0000

In this video Paul Nicklen describes his most amazing experience as a National Geographic photographer – coming face-to-face with one of Antarctica’s most vicious predators.

The video has already been viewed close to one million times since it was uploaded only 8 days ago.

Watch and you’ll understand why. It’s pretty amazing stuff.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells… Photo Gift Ideas for Christmas

Thomas — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:47:16 +0000

Like it or not, the holiday season is right in front of us. This means soon we will all be out Christmas shopping! Yahooooo! Well, perhaps not everyone is jumping up and down in joy about the prospect of stressing around to find the perfect Christmas gift for uncle Bob and ante Esmerelda.

Don’t despair! You can turn your photos into great gifts without even leaving home. It can all be done right there in front of your computer while you’re enjoying your latte. That sounds pretty appealing, doesn’t it?

There are quite a few companies around that specialize in transforming your photos into actual gifts.

One such company is PhotoWorks who makes it easy and fun to create unique photo books, cards, calendars, coasters, mouse pads, mugs and much more (see some of the examples below for some inspiration).

Everyone needs a calendar

Calendar: Choose your start month and select your most treasured images and you’re on the way to creating a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Customize it further with captions and your own custom date entries. Hangs from a European-style hanger for a polished look and durability.

Bucket style tote bag

Tote bag: Step out on the town with this elegant bucket style bag that’s large enough to hold all of your necessities. Made of a durable and supple micro-fiber, the zipper enclosure, multiple interior pockets and key fob keep your valuables tucked in safely. 24″ handles are stitched to sides.

A chic gift for someone you love

Woven throw: A large, woven throw can celebrate a special event, vacation memory or occasion. Distinctive gold tones and intricate damask pattern frames your photo on one side. Personalize with a title, date, etc. Made of 100% cotton.

Sterling silver necklace

Necklace: A modern spin on lockets. The PhotoWorks sterling silver 2-piece locket features an engraved letter monogram on the brushed square cover and your precious photo tucked behind it. Packaged in a beautiful gift box.

Photo Charm

Charm: Already have a treasured charm bracelet? If so, add a special photo charm to it to make your bracelet even more treasured. This classic sterling silver bracelet includes a sterling silver dime-sized square photo charm. Approximate weight = 3.5 grams. PhotoWorks package this item in a beautiful gift box.

Tapered mug

Photo mug: The tapered photo mug is perfectly suited for the office, for a perfect cup of coffee or tea at home or simply take it to your favorite cafe for your refills. At 16 ounces, there’s plenty of room in this large mug to hold a latte and plenty of cream. Give as a gift or enjoy it yourself.

Coasters

Coasters: Something to go with the photo mug above, or simply do your favorite beverage justice with some photo coasters. These coasts also make excellent party and housewarming gifts (especially when accompanied by a bottle of something tasty).

Mousepad

Mousepad: A photo mousepad can do many things. Put pictures of your vacation on it and it’s a welcome distraction. Use pictures of your crush and it’s a shrine. You might try a picture of your boss, and go for that promotion. Consider it your canvas, and be creative using one of the several layouts available from PhotoWorks!

Keepsake

Keepsake: A classy wood box featuring an inset ceramic photo tile with a Noah’s Ark design and your photo on its hinged lid. Lined with a soft felt, it’s the perfect place to store and protect your baby’s treasured keepsakes and memories.

And so the list goes on and on.

Head over to PhotoWorks and explore all the different Christmas gift ideas for yourself. Isn’t it time that you put your photos to good use with the added bonus of making someone happy in the process?

Have fun with Christmas shopping – and don’t say I didn’t encourage you to get started early!

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Ooops! Sorry, there are no related articles yet…

Interview with Tony Sweet

Thomas — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:55:38 +0000

Tony Sweet is one of my all time personal favourite photographers and he has been a huge inspiration for me when it comes to image design. When you view his images you will notice that each one of them are meticulously composed with careful attention to detail.

I have been fortunate enough to be able attend two of Tony’s online photography classes a couple of years ago: Image Design: Revealing Your Personal Vision and Fine Art Flower Photography which he still teaches over at BetterPhoto.com and I can highly recommend both of these two courses. Tony’s teaching style is straight to the point, yet very caring and encouraging all while he shares a wealth of knowledge with his students.

I’m very grateful that Tony was kind enough to take the time for this interview in between conducting on location workshops, teaching online photography classes, writing magazine articles and running his general nature photography business!

So, get yourself a good cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy this in depth interview with Master Photographer Tony Sweet.

After 20 years as a professional jazz artist, Tony Sweet changed careers and directed his creative juices towards nature photography. Tony is a ‘Nikon Legend Behind the Lens’, a member of ‘Team Nik’ (NikSoftware) and a ‘Lensbaby Guru’. His fine art prints are exhibited in private and corporate collections throughout the United States, and he is represented by The Getty Picture Agency. Today, Tony’s work is published on greeting cards, calendars, post cards, posters, annual reports, catalogs and various electronic mediums.

1. Tony, first of all thank you very much for taking the time for this interview! For those who might not know you, could you describe your style of photography and perhaps also briefly touch on the moment when you first realised you would make photography a career path?

It’s very difficult for one to describe ones own style of photography. In general, I look for color and graphic interest in most cases, however I’ve recently began looking for more sparse subjects for black and white renderings. We are all in a constant state of flux in any creative endeavor. Despite how people love to pigeon hole photographers styles, there really is only two kinds of photography: good and bad. Initially, I began photographing musicians in night clubs and portraits in my house in Cincinnati. When my first mentor, Tony Gayhart, showed me a nature slide, I decided immediately to pursue this as a career path. I also immediately swapped all of my fast, low light glass for lenses better suited for nature photography (20mm, 35-70mm, 80-200mm, and 105mm macro).

2. You have referred to Pat O’Hara and Tony Gayhart as your mentors and influence, but if you look back in the history of photography what other photographer’s work do you admire and why?

When getting started, I read all the books by John Shaw, Galen Rowell, Rod Planck, Larry West, John Netherton, Jim Zuckerman, Freeman Patterson, and Pat O’hara. I just read everything that I could get my hands on. The styles that appealed to my innate sense of design and photographic viscera were Freeman’s and Pat’s. After years of learning from reading the aforementioned authors to get a firm foundation, I began gravitating to the more impressionist, non representational photography, exemplified by Freeman, Pat and others.

3. A photographer’s day and week can be long! I know that you are often up extremely early, work through the day and often also shoot again around sunset. How do you manage your shooting time, admin work and personal life and get some rest at the same time?

Fortunately, I love every aspect of this business now. Interestingly, digital photography and software expertise has grown together and have inextricably merged to where some software expertise is essential in modern photography. Time management is more a function of how facile one is on the computer and in various software. The faster one can get through image editing and optimization, the better. I know what and where I like to photograph, so I’m not guessing as much and, therefore more effectively managing my shooting time, especially before and after workshops. I also can get by with little sleep, which has it’s drawbacks, but does enable me to get a lot done. Personal life?? Sure, I try to play music once a week with friends when home. I also try to get in a few poker games a year with old friends. Sue and I work and travel together. [Note: Tony's better half Sue aka Susan Milestone is an equally amazing nature photographer with some incredible work as well].

4. As a teacher and instructor you are known to be ‘positive, enthusiastic, generous, encouraging, approachable and energetic’. What motivates you to teach photography as passionately as you do?

Quite simply, I love sharing information and like working with people. As I think back on my life, I’ve always been a teacher, regardless of profession (musician, magician, photographer).

5. Can you talk a little bit about how you challenge yourself creatively and how you choose your subjects (or do they choose you)?

Without getting too abstract, I don’t really challenge myself, per se, but function in the moment, not unlike playing jazz music. I rely on my subconscious to perceive a subject area. Once that happens, I look a bit closer for specific subjects. My challenge is keeping up on creative software use by practicing as often as I can.

6. A great deal of your work is made on the East Coast of the US and is often somewhat more intimate nature and landscape images. However you have recently also been shooting more grand landscapes in areas like the Badlands and I know you have also recently completed another long road trip. How do you feel about photographing in new locations versus much more familiar locations to you like the Smokies for example? And do you approach the grand landscapes differently than the more intimate landscapes?

It takes a while to get past the snap shot stage at new locations and to be able to move to the more personal and more abstract stage. This is why I love revisiting the same locations year after year, not to get the same shots, but to shoot deeper and deeper, getting images that were unattainable on initial visits. When first visiting a new site, I go to the visitor’s center to look at books and post cards to see what’s there and get to locations at pre dawn and/or late afternoon for the after glow, like everyone else. The more we return to an area, the more and deeper we “see.”

7. You have embraced HDR photography and even produced an instructional DVD on the subject. You tend to lean up against the more ‘super real’ images. What captivates you about HDR and do you see a commercial market for it?

HDR is not new, being around since about 1937, but it’s new to the general photographic world. And the world has been flooded with a lot of HDR images, good and bad. I find that HDR is essential to get some scenes to work and can be another way to interpret a scene in a new, fresh way. Commercial market? Many video games have HDR style backdrops, architectural photographers use HDR (paying careful attention to processing the scene to record it as it is), stock photography (although the super real look is not a favorite, yet), and of course for book and article illustrations.

8. We all get stuck in a creative rut sometimes. What advice can you give to someone who is lacking inspiration and needs to get their creative juices flowing again?

Go to a new place
Use a Lensbaby
Try HDR, even on a single image!
Try camera movement / multiple exposures
Use a fisheye lens

9. I think it’s fair to say you have been successful in the stock photography market. How important is stock photography to your business today and what’s your thoughts on the emerging microstock photography market?

For snap shot life style photography, stock will remain viable for a time, but it’s on the way to a whole new paradigm. The younger generation are populating the stock agencies and with that comes the younger approach. The Getty stock agency is trolling for images and may have purchased at least a part of Flickr! So, anyone who adequately key words their images on Flickr has a chance of being approached for an image sale by Getty. However, I wouldn’t get my hopes up as stock prices have plummeted in recent years to the point of no longer being a substantial part of our income, dwindling more each year.

10. How about fine art prints? I know you have recently purchased an Epson 7900 printer, do you produce a lot of fine art prints? Are fine art prints an important part of your business? Are you represented by any art galleries? Do you work with interior designers?

Our business plan is to enter the print market in the coming year. We have a couple of print agents and interior designers we have worked with and will be taking portfolios around to galleries looking for representation during our winter break, in addition to limited web sales.

11. To me some of your stock photography images could as well be fine art prints. How do you make the distinction between a stock image and a fine art image, or do you also offer fine art prints of your stock images? Is any of your fine art prints offered in limited editions?

I’m not sure what fine art is, but I do a little research for stock and noticed the more abstract, movement / blur images and extreme macros / conceptual images are viable. These types of images can be seen as being “fine art.” In general, I just send in what I like and let the agency pick what they like. But, please remember that for a great many photographers, stock is no longer a viable source of income.

12. Finally, what was the most recent photography book you bought for yourself?

I buy photography books all the time, the most recent being, “Badlands of the High Plains” by Chuck Haney.

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Tony Sweet teaches several online classes at BetterPhoto.com and conducts his “Visual Artistry” photography and digital printing workshops from March through October throughout the continental United States and Canada.

Tony has also produced several really excellent books and DVDs which can be purchased from the store on his website or at Amazon.com.

I’m also very excited to announce here on Photography 24/7 that Tony Sweet has just released a new DVD titled “Visual Artistry: The Art of Pre-Visualizing in Modern Digital Photography” (it’s literally being pressed as this interview goes live).

Shot in the springtime, Tony works in a variety of locations from historic downtown Charleston and Drayton Hall, to the magical landscapes of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Visual Artistry is filled with compositional techniques, tips and tricks from Tony s many years as a professional photographer and workshop leader.

You can purchase the new DVD directly from Tony Sweet’s website or at Amazon.com.

I own all of Tony’s DVDs and have watched them several times and find them a good source of photographic inspiration each time, so check them out if they are not already in your DVD library.

You can watch a small video in clip from Tony’s Visual Literacy DVD in this previous post: Tony Sweet Nature Portfolio.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

15 Fine Flickr Examples of Lensbaby Images

Thomas — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:10:21 +0000

There is an incredible amount of excellent, creative photography to be viewed on flickr. It’s simply mind boggling to think about all the creative talent that’s out there.

Today I looked through hundreds and hundreds of different Lensbaby shots on flickr with the intention to make another ’15 Fine Flickrs’ compilation. There were many beautiful images so it wasn’t easy just picking 15.

As I looked through the Lensbaby pool of images on flickr, however, there were also quite a few images that lacked zing. These images were plain or even downright boring. They fell short of including any of the three key ingredients that make up a good photograph. It was as if these images were preoccupied with the ‘effect’ of the Lensbaby and forgot all about good photographic craft.

As with any photographic tool (or technique) it’s important not to let oneself be swept away by the tool (or the technique) itself. It’s important to apply good photographic craft regardless of the tool (or technique). To me good photographic craft include one or more of the following three key ingredients for a good photograph:

1. Beautiful light
2. Strong design
3. Action or Mood

Irrespective of your photographic tool (or technique) always try to capture your subject in beautiful light.

Never compromise on strong and powerful image design as this is essential to keep the viewer’s attention regardless of how amazing your ‘effect’ is. In other words follow your usual instinct when it comes to composition and don’t let the ‘effect’ distract your image design. A poorly composed image with a stunning ‘effect’ doesn’t make a great photograph.

Action or mood are elements that can really elevate an image to greatness. If you can create an image where your subject is captured in beautiful light and then arranged within the frame with a strong sense of design and then add action or mood to your image, then you have a keeper for the top drawer.

So without further ado here are 15 fine flickr examples of Lensbaby images that include at least one of the above mentioned key ingredients for a good photograph.

Please enjoy, and if you have time click on any of the images to view more of the individual photographer’s flickr photos.

Photo by sparktography

Photo by rahuldlucca

Photo by daekxus

Photo by mike.wilson

Photo by silicapathways

Photo by schallkoerper (ronald)

Photo by minato

Photo by elenaerda

Photo by Laura Burlton

Photo by john curley

Photo by Kit_Z

Photo by aopho

Photo by thespeak

Photo by Myxi

Photo by Stephen Poff

As you can see you can create some beautiful effects with the Lensbaby (and its accessories) but remember to always apply good photographic craft and not let yourself be overwhelmed by the effect of a photographic tool or technique. The photographers above have all combined good photographic craft with the Lensbaby with stunning results.

Personally I started out with the Muse and then later purchased the Composer when it was released. If I was to purchase my Lensbaby today I would go straight for the Composer because of its ease of use. It’s definitely a fun tool to have in your gear bag.

You can check out all the details on the Lensbaby website.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

15 Fine Flickr Examples of Creative Autumn Photographs

Thomas — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:09:24 +0000

If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere you’re in middle of autumn (or fall if you’re in North America) and it’s time to get out and make some photographs.

The pursuit of the colours of autumn is one of the most thrilling things you can do within the genre of outdoor ad nature photography. There are several good reasons for this:

You’re out under the open sky in one of the finest seasons of the year.
The air is often crisp and clear and the light is just beautiful, so even if you don’t come home with a masterpiece the fresh air will have cleared your mind.
You have one of the year’s most beautiful colour palettes available to you to light-paint with.
The shifting combinations of color and weather offers very rich picture opportunities.

To help get your creative juices flowing I have compiled a list of 15 fine flickr examples of creative autumn photographs which I hope you will enjoy:

Photo by Denis Collette

Photo by Charlotte L. Riser

Photo by Fulla T

Photo by stukinha

Photo by Caro Wallis

Photo by dhammza

Photo by aha42

Photo by Art Rock (Hennie)

Photo by Kristine K.

Photo by (le)doo (analogique Man)

Photo by _rivera

Photo by Bob Jagendorf

Photo by onkel wart

Photo by moriza

Photo by Libertinus

I hope you enjoyed this flickr autumn inspiration series of images.

If you want even more inspiration I’d encourage you to visit some of the talented photographers who have created the above images. Clicking their images will take you took their flickr account where you can view more of each photographer’s work.

Until next post, keep warm if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, and try not to think too much about those of us who will be sipping cold white wine on the balcony in shorts and t-shirt.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

A Few Wise Words

Thomas — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:01:32 +0000

I like to carry one of the legendary Moleskine notebooks with me as often as I can, so that I can make a note of anything worthy making a note of as and when I come across it.

The Moleskine notebooks are available at most good bookstores or you can get them online over at Chronicle Books.

So today I thought I would just take a minute to share a couple of quotes I’ve scribbled down in recent days.

1. First, something I simply heard on TV the other day:

Don’t become a brand, become an artist.

2. Ansel Adams about abstract photography (and please forgive me, this is loosely noted down based on my memory from a recent interview I watched with him):

There is no such thing as an abstract photograph, only extracts of reality.

3. And a few suggested answers from Ansel Adams to the question:

What is a photograph?

- An interpretation of reality
- A document or a representation
- An interpretation or a statement of feeling of a scene

4. And these fine words I read in a photo magazine (I forget which one) the other day:

Good photographic art makes feelings visible, purely and simply.

5. And finally another great quote from Ansel Adams, something which many of us can relate to in these tumultuous and testing times:

The best picture is around the corner, just like prosperity.

Have you come across any wise words or quotes recently? Share your favourite quotes or wise words in the comments to this post. I’d love to hear from you.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Pete Turner: Empowered by Color

Thomas — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:21:17 +0000

Bold color and striking compositions are at the core of Pete Turner’s extraordinary vision. Critic A.D. Coleman wrote of Turner’s work, “A dramatist’s sense of event, intense and saturated coloration, and a distinct if indescribable otherness are omnipresent in Turner’s images.”

In 1959, an expedition from Capetown to Cairo was a turning point in Turner’s career. In 1967, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York exhibited “The Giraffe” from a 1964 expedition. A controversial image for the time, the giraffe, silhouetted against a brilliant red sky, illustrated his growing interest in treating color as a graphic element. A master colorist, he broke all the rules in a pre-computer era.

Watch this video to learn more about Pete Turner and view some of his outstanding imagery:

You may also want to consider a couple Pete Turner’s books (I own “The Color of Jazz” myself and it’s a beautiful book filled with many Turner’s great images):

The Color of Jazz

African Journey

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Hear It From the Man Himself

Thomas — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:30:22 +0000

Make yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee, get comfortable in your chair and enjoy watching this short video with one of photography’s most legendary photographers within the landscape genre. It’s a great little interview and includes a mini biography on the great Ansel Adams.

Here are a couple of books with Ansel Adams that live on my bookshelf and which I can warmly recommend:

Ansel Adams – 400 Photographs

Ansel Adams – Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

August is Compact Month – Up for a Challenge?

Thomas — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:33:32 +0000

In my recent post Learning to See I announced that I will carry my compact Canon G9 with me every day throughout the month of August and make as many images with it as time permits each day. I will be uploading one image (my personal best choice) from each day here on the site so you can follow the results and see how I go.

I should note that this is not a quest to make master pieces, but rather a quest to get my creative juices flowing and my vision exercised. I will leave my options completely open in regards to subject matter and just try to create images that hold some sort of visual interest.

How Can You Challenge Yourself and Exercise Your Vision?

You can start by exploring your point of view. The now legendary Ansel Adams once said “A good photo is knowing where to stand.”

Take your time to explore several different viewpoints of your subject or scene before deciding on a favourite composition. This is one way to get some creative results and then you can always study the results more closely when you’re behind the monitor and choose your favourite then. Keep and open mind and try different camera angles, including camera angles that you are convinced will not work – you could be surprised!

Step up on a bench, chair or ladder to elevate yourself to a higher point of view, get close, get closer, move to the left, move further away, step to the right,crouch down to get the perspective from a kid’s eyes, lie flat on your stomach, pan your camera with a moving subject, shoot from above and directly down, shoot from below and directly up etc. etc. – you get my drift.

The idea is to push yourself creatively and shoot from angles you might not usually try. So be sure to go out there with an open mind.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Into the Light

Thomas — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:09:10 +0000

Here is a great little inspirational video by the talented Ibarionex Perello.

Ibarionex is a professional photographer, writer, educator and also host of The Candid Frame and Shooting with Alas photography podcasts. I listen (and watch) both of these podcasts and find them very inspirational. I have been particularly fond of the The Candid Frame. If you are not familiar with Ibarionex’ podcasts I would highly recommend that you go and check them out.

Before you go to the podcasts though, start out by watching this inspiring video in which Ibarionex explains the reason why he became and continue to be a photographer. The video might serve as a little bit of background information to his podcasts. Enjoy…

You can also see more of Ibarionex’ photography here.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Learning to See

Thomas — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:01:58 +0000

My very first post on this website was Top 10 Best-Selling Photo Books which featured Bryan Peterson’s Understanding Exposure in spot number one.

Bryan Peterson is also the author of another great book titled Learning to See Creatively which is a great book about design, colour and composition in photography. It’s full of great examples of what to look for when you’re doing photography – examples of how to see.

I have made it a habit to practice seeing wherever I go. I’m always looking for images even when I don’t have a camera with me. It helps me keep my vision sharp (pardon the pun). About a year ago, however, I purchased my first serious compact carry-with-me-everywhere type camera; the Canon G9 which – despite its small body – is capable of spitting out 12 megabyte RAW files!

The Canon G9 has since been replaced by the Canon G10.

While I have made a number of images with this camera in the past year I have not been the best to carry-it-with-me-everywhere. However I took it with me on a walk today together with the family and used it to make some portraits of my one year old as well as making a few images for myself including the one above (click the thumbnail to view large version). I have titled the image ‘Unexpected Symphony’.

Personal Photo Challenge Starting In August

Since the Canon G9 is a great little compact camera – and to push myself to practice seeing even more – I have made the decision to challenge myself to make more photos with it and carry it with me more often. So throughout the month of August I will make sure to carry the Canon G9 with me every day wherever I go and I will then make at least a few images with it everyday. I will be uploading one image from each day here on the site so you can follow the results.

Update: See the images from my August Snaps project.

This is not the first personal photo challenge I have thrown at myself. In 2006/07 I took on a personal – fairly substantial – photo project called 52 Weeks, 52 Photos. Before that I have also challenged myself to get up at sunrise throughout the whole month of November to make images. Giving myself challenges like this helps me stay motivated and focused.

For me photography is like a sport. You have to practise to become good at it. Throwing yourself photo projects is one way to challenge yourself to stay creative and to keep shooting on a regular basis.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Create Your Own Inspiration Files

Thomas — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:21:47 +0000

As photographers we are always on the lookout for inspiration and new ideas. Part of living a photographic life, to me, includes viewing a variety of photography online (portfolio websites, following photoblogs and discovering new ones as well as reading and interacting with various online photo ressources and photo communities). As much as I enjoy technology and the internet, I still also very much enjoy reading off-the-shelf photo magazines and photo books. In fact it is probably fair to say that I have an addiction to both photo magazines and photo books.

At some point my addiction to photo magazines got out of hand. My wife complained about magazine racks overflowing and spilling onto the floor where several stacks of photo magazines piled up over time. The piles of photo magazines on the floor made for great entertainment for our one year old daughter though, she had lots of fun spreading them all over the floor and tearing out pages to chew on!

This gave me an idea, although it wasn’t a very novel idea. Why not tear out the pages with interesting articles and inspirational images and keep them in a scrapbook and then throw away all the junk pages? ‘Smart’ I thought, this would get rid of the piles of magazines on the floor, it would give me easy access to the articles and images I find interesting and I wouldn’t feel as if I was throwing away hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of good photo magazines.

The concept of Inspiration Files was born.

Now, like I said, this is certainly not a novel idea. The idea of keeping printed materials of personal interest probably dates back to shortly after the invention of printing! However, how many of us actually get around to doing it? Surely I am not the only person in the world who tends to procrastinate the slightly more laborious and tedious tasks?! The main problem, of course, was that I had put off organising my magazines for years, so the task had become huge. I must have had hundreds of magazines to go through and it took me several evenings to get it all sorted, organised and done!

However as with anything you have put off for a long time, it was a great feeling when it was all done. I ended up with 10 Inspiration Files, each containing 80 pages which means I currently have 800 pages of photographic inspiration I can go to whenever I need a creative kick.

If you aren’t already scrapbooking or creating your own Inspiration Files I encourage you to start today. If you have a lot of magazines lying around, go through them now, tear out the pages that interest you and organise them into files. I simply use affordable, spiral back portfolios with 40 plastic sleeves per folder which are available from my local stationers.

Once you have your initial stack(s) of magazines are out of the way it is simply a matter of keeping it up on an ongoing basis. Once you you finish a magazine, make it a habit to tear out the articles and images that inspire you and put them into your Inspiration File. If you are really organised you can even flag these articles and images when you read the magazine.

Over time you will have a bunch of files packed with great articles (since they are hand picked by yourself) which will serve as a great source of photographic inspiration for many years.

You probably already have one or several photo magazines that you read, but if you need some inspiration here is a list of magazines that I either buy off-the-shelf on a regualr basis or subscribe to:

Outdoor Photographer
Photo District News (PDN)
American Photo
B&W: Black & White Magazine
Photo Techniques
Lenswork
Photo District News
Practical Photography
Photofile
Better Photoshop Techniques
Better Photography (Australia)

I told you I was addicted to photo magazines!

Have fun creating your own Inspiration Files.

If you liked this article, you may also like these:

Tony Sweet Nature Portfolio

Thomas — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:11:49 +0000

Tony Sweet is one of my all time favourite photographers and he has been a huge inspiration for me when it comes image design.

When you view his images you will notice that each one of them are meticulously composed with careful attention to detail. In this video Tony Sweet shows images from his portfolio and discusses how he achieved them.

After 20 years as a professional jazz artist, Tony changed careers and directed his creative juices towards nature photography. Today, Tony’s work is published on greeting cards, calendars, post cards, posters, annual reports, catalogs and electronic mediums.

The video in this post is a clip from Tony Sweet’s excellent DVD called Visual Literacy which I can highly recommend to anyone interested in nature and outdoor photography. I have watched it several times and it is virtually impossible not to be inspired each time you watch it. Buy it here!

Tony Sweet also teaches some excellent online photo classes over at BetterPhoto.com which I can highly recommend. When I first started out in photography I attended 8 different classes over at BetterPhoto.com and they all helped propel my photography forward. Check them out.