Following are some inspirational ideas for photographers who have a “nagging feeling that there’s a script inside you that may never get out.” That’s right, April is the month of Script Frenzy!, an annual event with no fees (and no pressure of awards) geared to help people get those nagging scripts out of their systems — whether feature movies, stage plays, short films, TV commercials or even graphic novels.
The point of Script Frenzy! is to help creative people engage in Continue reading “Photographers Can Go Script Frenzy, Too!”
Tags: Aaron Goodman, Directing, Meghan Scibona, Movie Making, Multimedia, National Novel Writing Month, Script Frenzy!, Stewart Cohen, Storytelling, Writing
I say “revisits” because my assumption is that most photographers — pro or amateurs — reading this blog will agree with Peter Gregg (and me) that going RAW is a no brainer, and that there is really no argument to be made or discussion to be had.
That said, I realize that writing my “RAW Processing Solutions” column for After Capture might have stilted me a bit. So I was pleased to encounter Gregg’s latest report for ProPhoto Home: “If you are not shooting RAW files – your camera is BROKEN!!!” He brings up some good points that that remind me that I am not stilted and the raw files simply rock.
However, the best part of Gregg’s report is that he brings Continue reading “Peter Gregg Revisits RAW vs. JPEG”
Tags: Image Quality, ISO, JPEG, Peter Gregg, ProPhoto, RAW, RAW vs. JPEG
When commercial photographer Joe Pobereskin FaceBooked me to join the social media site’s “Photography is Not a Crime” cause group, well, I have to admit, I didn’t think much of it. I’m not a power FaceBooker, but I should have giving Joe’s ping more credit. Joe is well respected for his feverish, outspoken support of all manner of photographers, and “Photography in Not a Crime” definitely looks promising
Joe has done a lot of photography advocacy work through the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), but has shown his ability extend his reach using New Media. He started a photo-centric blog a couple years ago, and now he’s turning to FaceBook.
Created by Carlos Miller, there are already 1,200 members of the “Photography is Not a Crime,” and a number of the members Continue reading “FaceBook Cause for Photographers”
Tags: American Society of Media Photographers, ASMP, Carlos Miller, Eddie North-Hager, Joe Pobereskin, Photography is Not a Crime, Photography Rights, Sean Arbabi
On Monday I strongly proclaimed that “stock is dead.” I was trying to force home the point that considering making a living solely though licensing stock images is about as practical as considering trying to get rich selling ice to Eskimos. And I stand by my strong-minded opinion. But, don’t worry. I’m actually not all doom and gloom.
I wrote what I wrote because I feel that it is critical that forward-thinking photographers utterly abandon any kind of perverse line of thinking that will lead them to plan their financial success around stock, even in part. As I keep saying, stock is Continue reading “What To Do About the Death of Stock”
Tags: Image Licensing, Stock Photography
Photographed brilliantly by Layne Kennedy and featuring wonderful essays by Greg Breining, “A Hard-Water World: Ice Fishing and Why We Do It” is a great book in its own right, and a fabulous example of how images and words in book form – when handled with such intelligence – can still illuminate a topic like no other media.
Frankly, when I split open “A Hard-Water World” I wasn’t really expecting that much. For one thing, too many topical photography books disappoint. And for another, ice fishing isn’t Continue reading “Inspiring Little Book on a Strange, Cold World”
Tags: A Hard-Water World, A Hard-Water World: Ice Fishing and Why We Do It, Book Review, Documentary Photography, Editing, Greg Breining, Ice Fishing, Image Editing, Inspiration, Layne Kennedy, Photojournalism, Picture Stories, Sports Photography, Storytelling
There, I said it. Stock photography is dead. Which is to say, from the photographer’s perspective, making and licensing stock imagery is no longer a viable way to earn extra income, let alone make a living purely through stock sales.
This opinion is not one based on deep research, and it can easily be refuted by any number of photographers who are still making big bucks from both old and new stock. But I think this “stock is dead” perspective is critically important for photographers to embrace so that they do not waste precious resources trying to squeeze money out of a dead industry.
Don’t get me wrong. Stock isn’t going away — especially not from the user’s point of view. Stock images are Continue reading “Stock Photography is Dead”
Tags: Betsy Reid, Image Licensing, Jim Pickerell, Rohn Engh, SAA, Stock Artists Alliance, Stock Photography
“I strongly believe that people should assist and pay their dues, learning from the best,” was another thing commercial photographer Andrew Matusik said to me during a recent interview.
Matusik says there’s no doubt that assisting played a strong role in his rapid road to success. He started assisting the well-know fashion photographer Neil Kirk in 2000, and by 2005 he was ready to head off to New York on his own—where Matusik is doing very well.
The idea of beginning a career in commercial photography by assisting is as old as commercial photography itself, and the value of it is generally accepted. However, the digital era has Continue reading “Reconsidering Assisting in the Digital Era”
Tags: Andrew Matusik, Assisting, Chase Jarvis, Commercial Photography, Fashion Photography, Joey L, Neil Kirk
Go figure. In the past two months three photographers have shared with me this same video on YouTube featuring the hilarious comedian Louis CK. Check it out for a good laugh, even though it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with photography.
Louis CK always makes me laugh with his dead-on witty observations about the absurdities of society. As you will see in this piece, he points out how technology is giving us incredible wonders – WiFi in planes!!! – but everyone is bitching – the damn WiFi went out!!!
How does this relate to photography? I’m not exactly sure, but I’m thinking you might be able to chime in. After three photographers forwarded me this same video (for no clear reason), it got me to thinking about Continue reading “Everything’s Amazing, Are Photographers Happier?”
Tags: Digtial Attitudes, Humor, Louis CK, YouTube
The remarkably creative commercial photographer Andrew Matusik recently told me that, “Commercial photography is really all about nurturing clients.”
He then mentioned the critical importance of communicating well and often with clients—something most successful photographers are well aware of—and then Matusik said, “A lot of it’s a dog and pony show.”
When I asked Matusik to clarify, he mentioned how his commercial shoots have bigger and better catering than his Continue reading “How’s Your Dog and Pony Show?”
Tags: Andrew Matusik, Beyond Photography Business, Commercial Photography, Working with Clients
