Feels like just a few weeks ago that I was announcing “They’re Off!” — referring to the departure of mother-daughter documentary film-making team Gail Mooney and Erin Kelly. Well, it was actually the end of May, and since then Mooney and Kelly have had one hell of an adventure. Arriving back home only yesterday, Mooney proves her amazing video editing skills and gives us all a great taste of “Opening Our Eyes” with this wonderful behind-the-scenes short.
Aug 02 2010
Beautiful, Buzzing Natural History from Rob Sheppard
“In terms of a still image, the bees just looked like a brown splotch on a brown background — not interesting at all — but the video that I captured was truly amazing.” This is what Rob Sheppard told me about an image-making experience he had a few months back while exploring the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. He shared this as an example the value of using HD-DSLR video to better share nature.
At the time we talked, I had to trust Sheppard that his video captures were amazing. Now, thanks to his new “Buzz” video, we can all enjoy Sheppard’s great hi-def video of digger bees in action. Amazing, indeed — especially the fantastic close-ups!
This is wonderful natural history storytelling, well conceived, excellently executed. It fits in perfectly with Sheppard’s expanding goals as an image maker. As he said: “I want to focus more on creating natural history pieces.”
Sheppard, the editor-at-large of Outdoor Photographer, told me that technology is only a means to an end. He explained that the reason he is so excited about HD-DSLR technology is that it will help him with his greatest passion: exploring, sharing and helping conserve the natural environment.
Jul 16 2010
The Salvos Learn to Drive
Vero o Falso?
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Suzanne Salvo told me during a great chat on Wednesday. She was laughing but speaking in earnest regarding the difficulties of passing the Italian drivers license exam. Given the utterly perplexing diagrams she posted in a hilarious post on her fantastic blog the other day, I can see why the test would be so hard. Still, I can’t really believe it’s the hardest thing she’s ever done. (See Bolivian jungles below.)
For his part, Chris Salvo (the amazing lens behind the husband and wife team of Salvo Photography) still hasn’t passed the driving portion of the test. Given that the guy has been driving for three decades now, I had to make fun of him, but Suzanne, with good humor, explained that the driving classes are mandatory and you have to pay for them and so, um. . .
Here in Buenos Aires we call it a “coima,” which usually doesn’t translate to “bribe” in the strictest, harshest sense, but can often seem more like “creative money earning.” Sounds like it might be similar in Italy, which makes sense, consider how Argentines are often referred to as “Spanish-speaking Italians.”
In any case, Chris, who I Continue reading “The Salvos Learn to Drive”
Jun 23 2010
The Decisive Lego
What happens when the “decisive moment” meets the “decisive Lego”? Joyful inspiration, I say! Head to Mike Stimpson’s “Classics in Legos” on his Flkr site, and you’ll see what I mean.
Seriously, this is some of the best photography I’ve seen in a long time, even if, um, I’ve seen all these photographs before.
I’m biting my tongue not to go on and on about my response to this wonderful work. I’d rather you enjoy a few minutes of pure photographic joy by seeing the “decisive Lego” in action here!
Jun 14 2010
Rob Sheppard Sheds Light on the Natural Value of Video
“I love exploring the natural world,” Rob Sheppard shared with me enthusiastically when I interviewed him regarding the best ways photographers can approach video and multimedia. That was the same day I talked to Ian Shive and touched base with Tony Wu on the topic, and Sheppard’s comment about exploring nature was by way of explaining his openness to embracing video.
You see, for Sheppard, imaging technology — whether still, video or multimedia — is simply a means to an end. And for Sheppard, that end is about exploring nature, and then sharing his experiences with others.
If you’re not aware, Sheppard is a highly-respected nature photographer, writer, educator and the editor-at-large of “Outdoor Photographer.” He’s been helping educate still photographers for decades –30 books, hundreds of articles and seminars galore — and his intense focus on still imagery made his incredible enthusiasm take me by surprise. Silly, silly me.
Video for Life
During the hour we talked, Sheppard shared a wonderful breath of technical and creative insights. At the end of our call, I asked Sheppard what message he would like to share with nature photographers who might be hesitant about exploring the possibilities of video and multimedia. His beautiful response:
“To me, on a very personal level, nature is important. And I think nature needs our attention. People look at the natural world as place to extract things, but the entire natural world is part of a whole, and when we don’t respect nature it causes problems for nature, and for people as well. Continue reading “Rob Sheppard Sheds Light on the Natural Value of Video”
Jun 03 2010
Underwater Storytelling from Tony Wu
When I talked with underwater photographer Tony Wu late last night (early this morning for the Japan-based Wu), he agreed with Ian Shive that making quality multimedia — from stills, video or both — is all about the story. To illustrate his point, Wu directed me to his fantastic blog covering underwater photography and therein to “A Very Hungry Frogfish,” one of his first experiments in multimedia storytelling
If you haven’t yet put together a multimedia piece, or are in need of inspiration, I strongly recommend you watch this wonderful Frogfish-staring piece by Wu. “It’s a good illustration of nothing mattering more than the story,” Wu told me, which is the exact sentiment Shive had shared (not to mention everyone else I have interviewed on the topic).
“Yeah, the audio sucks and the video processing is no good,” Wu shared in his slow, calm, thoughtful manner of speaking. “But the end result achieves what I wanted, which was to make people laugh, and to get people to emotionally relate to a fish.”
I definitely laughed. I definitely was not distracted or put off by the low-tech nature of the piece. For “Frogfish” Wu only used a handful of stills (patiently captured over more than an hour and a half), Wu’s voice-over narration and endearingly simple “special effects.”
“Frogfish” has a simplicity the resonates like the experience of the best children’s books, which (as my sister-in-law, who is a children’s librarian will tell you) are some of the greatest books out there.
“There’s no way I could have conveyed this story with one picture, or words alone,” Wu said. “People really get it.”
Not Being Overwhelmed by Overwhelming Technology
Jun 02 2010
The Incredible Nature of Ian Shive
“At the end of the day, your multimedia project is only as good as your story,” Ian Shive told me today during a fantastic interview. Both insightful and contagiously enthusiastic regarding the evolving possibilities in multimedia for still photographers, Shive is a 31-year-old nature photographer who turned pro only a few years ago — from a background in marketing major Hollywood motion pictures. Driven and focused, Shive is having tremendous success, recently publishing “The National Parks: Our American Landscape” and having launched Wild Collective, a full-service multimedia production company with partner, Russell Chadwick.
Shive’s portfolio is a strong, lush statement that speaks to his capacity to create top-notch nature imagery. However, to get a much better sense of who Shive is — and to gain inspiration for possibilities in leveraging still images in multimedia projects — watch “Wild Exposure with Ian Shive – Episode One – The Southwest.”
Created with Chadwick, the original idea behind “Wild Exposure” was to create a multimedia promo piece for “Our American Landscape.” The thing is, returning from their 28-day, 7,500-mile National Parks road trip, Shive says the team realized that Chadwick “had shot 36 hours of the most stunning footage you have ever seen in HD.” What to do?
May 25 2010
Opening Our Eyes: They’re Off!
Today, May 25, 2010, marks the bicentenary of the revolution that marked the beginning of Argentina’s road to independence. It seems appropriate that Chance decided that today would also be the day that Gail Mooney would set off on her 3-month, round-the-world trip to create “Opening Our Eyes”, a documentary film project she is making in partnership with her daughter, Erin Kelly.
I say that the connection to Argentina’s revolution (and ultimate independence) is appropriate because of all the photographers I know personally, without a doubt, Gail Mooney is the most revolutionary- and independent-minded.
Since I introduced “Opening Our Eyes” in March, the project has taken much fuller shape. You can get a good sense of the trip at the main website. Keep in mind that a year ago Mooney hadn’t even thought up this trip. From initial concept to flying out of Newark airport today, Mooney and Kelly have orchestrated all details of this massive undertaking in only a little over six months.
Be sure to also check out “Journeys of a Hybrid”, Mooney’s excellent blog full of insights — from the personal and creative to the technical and business side — from a photographer who has lived her life to the fullest, and who seems to be just warming up.
Mooney, who has been in the business for 33 years, has focused primarily on still photographic coverage of travel assignments for magazines. However, she has also worked plenty in the commercial realm in partnership with her husband, Tom Kelly.
Mooney not only made a smooth transition to digital photography, but she is one of the new bread photographers who is fully embracing the possibilities of video and, just as fully, the exciting possibilities of Web publication and social media.
Good Lu. . .
May 14 2010
Underwater Photography Resources and The World’s Greatest Juggler
I had a great talk today with Eric Cheng, a fantastic underwater photographer, the driving force behind WetPixel.com, and the publisher of “Wetpixel Quarterly” magazine. I am researching an article on how photographers can best embrace the possibilities of video, and the tech-savvy, video-embracing Cheng offered great insights on the topic.
If you are at all interested in underwater photography, definitely check out Cheng’s stunning images.
WetPixel.com is the a fantastic online community of underwater photographers — articles and forums galore — and a must-visit resource if you are dedicated to (or just thinking about) making images underwater. Very, very cool.
What’s all this have to do with juggling?
“I would say that the YouTube community is extremely toxic,” Cheng emphasized to me when he was weighing in on whether photographers should host videos on YouTube.com or Vimeo.com. “People are really nasty on YouTube. Someone is always going to come and write something nasty.” Cheng explained that, inevitably, more negative responses follow, and “big wars” get started.
Continue reading “Underwater Photography Resources and The World’s Greatest Juggler”
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