Photography 24/7 » Be Inspired

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.