(This is a previously published article, but the fireworks haven’t changed, so it should all still hold true.)

What is it about fireworks that draws us close, cause us to emit uncontrollable ooohs and ahhhhs, and brings a group experience unlike any other? That shared , almost primal feeling of amazement at seeing those colored explosives, bursting in air, and the crescendo of the finale, is an experience like no other.

Here are some tips on creating your own iconic images. And some more.

Want the basics?
1. Shoot with a tripod
2. No Flash
3. ISO 100 is sufficient
4. Photograph peoples reactions too. You may want to get those ooohhs and ahhhhsss on record. Mass happy reactions! Remember-no flash!
5. Experiment with focal lengths for a new look at the same patterns.
6. Set your focus to infinity
7. Shutter speed should be set to “bulb” or shoot 1-4 secs. Experiment!
OR
Set your point and shoot to “Fireworks” and shoot away. You may not get the best , but you’ll have a memory.

And have a happy and safe 4th!
All part of a good stay-cation.
For all of our friends around the world, keep these tips handy for your country’s celebrations.
Hmmmm…maybe July 14th for our French photographers.

Tags: cameras, Digital imaging, DSLR, fireworks, focal length, july 4th, photography, tripod

It’s nothing new really.
I do shop for a ton of things on-line. But major camera gear, I like to put my hands on and have a brick & mortar store standing behind it. Plus the ease of servicing.
With books, it’s usually a different matter.
Amazon is always the first choice, as the deal is the best, even with their vendors.
But sometimes you just can’t do it on-line. Sometimes, that book you wanted is out of print. And killer expensive.
Such is the case with this weeks giveaway book, Americans In Kodachrome.
Sure I ordered one for you, and was told there would be a confirmation once shipped. Even had ordered a back-up book on the subject, so the winner would be guaranteed an appropriate book.
The job wasn’t over though. The hunter and gatherer in me was not resting.
Today was spent running errands and visiting the book stores in the area. Who knows, maybe someone had a copy that was not in the on-line list.
And there was.
One of my favorite bookstores of all time, Hennessy and Ingalls in Santa Monica, who, for years, has had the premium collection of art and architecture books in Los Angeles, had one lone copy. And it had a brodart (plastic) protector on the cover. Perfect!

Wasn’t going for a sweeter price than list, this store had just what I wanted. Just what you wanted. That was all that was important.

The lesson here is two-fold: 1) everything is NOT online, and 2) thankfully book stores like Hennessey and Ingalls exist so we recommend your hearty support of them. When the top sellers go out of print, and we’ve discussed this before, maybe a store like this will solve your search.
Oh, yes. the irony is not lost on me that writing about a store online, with a link to that same store, while recommending a physical visit, is a bit well…ironic.
If you are in Santa Monica, CA. you have to get there. If not, support your local bookseller. At least some of the time.
Continuing on this walk, a stop into Urban Outfitters had to happen as they are fervent supporters of the photoworld, with a full line of Holga and Lomo products, plus books.
They even sell lomo film.
This other item though, was a new one. In a cruder style of Chuck Close, they had a pixel image paint set, where you upload a photo, the site converts it to pixels and numbered squares, and you ‘paint by numbers” with the enclosed grey scale paint and paint brush.
The biggest decision is which photo to use.
It comes from a company called DIYART, and goes for about $20.

We’ll share what comes from that little project.

The best news is that the winner of the giveaway book, is guaranteed the first choice book. Whew! I feel so much better now.

Tags: Americans in Kodachrome, DIYART, Hennessey & Ingalls, photo websites, photographer, photography, Urban Outfitters

Well, whenever I travel, as in fly, I have to pack tight, light and right.
The gear that goes has to be rugged, have a purpose and many times, have some back-up.
On this last trip, since stills are always a part of the deal, and video gets packed in there too, a hybrid pack was developed.
The main attraction is the Nikon D700 w/ a 24-70 2.8 lens, set on the shoulder with a very comfortable Crumpler Industry Disgrace camera strap. After trooping around Austin for days at SXSW, a comfortable strap is essential.

And with the Nikon D700, it’s full frame, my favorite 51 point focusing system, able to react as fast as it should, enough exposure controls which get pre-set and numbered so depending on the main environs, customization is a button press away. And the glass…ahhh that sweet, fast 2.8 lens, works it hard .
The high noiseless ISO, saves me innumerable times. Even when i have to crop for the shot, there is plenty of clean room in the file.

In the apartment I rent (always preferred to a hotel) setting up your workspace is key and this little area gave me a glare-free environment plus access to the power strip.

The media cards are traveled in a zippered case, because it’s harder to lose the separate cards in their plastic holders. For me anyway.

The readers get doubled up. There is the Lexar firewire and the Delkin Express, which slips into the card port.
Now the Delkin unit saw more action this trip due to logistics:
The external hard drive of choice is the G-Tech G-DRIVE mini Triple Hard drive 320 GB –
which spins a fast 7200 rpm and has it’s own bus-powered fan. Great for stills, essential for video.
And when the G-tech was plugged in, that took too much space so the lexar was crowded. Hence the Delkin reader.
This trip saw the first time use of the Hoodman Raw SDHC Card Reader
. small and did the job, that’s all I ask for.

Batteries got their juice from the Delkin Dual Universal Charger
(except the Canon Elph) which allows you to mix and match batteries for charging 2 units at a time. Needed that.

As we had mentioned before the Canon PowerShot SD780IS12.1 MP Digital Camera
became our pocket camera, when the big boy was too much. And it worked hard capturing video and stills at a moments notice, with no unsightly bulge.

Always in the bag were 2 out of 3 of these pups:

The Joby Gorillapods in mini had a tripod screw AND a suction cup deal that was used for the old iPhone.

The tripod mount held the Canon when video was needed and I was the only one around. The XShot Camera Extender
was just a fun deal that got some attention as I could be included in the shot. Sometimes, I’d use it for video and it had a strange, Mean Streets look to it, if you know that scene with Harvey Keitel. Anyone?

OK, the big one was outfitted with a giottos ball head and could hold the other video camera, complete with the cool Litepanels, new micro pro adjustable LED light. On this new battery powered unit, added gels was super easy and brilliantly designed.
Throw in the lavalier mic, body packs, and HD tape and we were set.
By the way, that camera may be going through a change, although when on the road, recording to a hard media like a tape is a comforting thought.

Since we were out of the country, extra plug adaptors and transformers were part of the kit and traveled in a net zipper bag so it was obvious what was there. the red thing is a multi USB connector picked up at a design store. As long it works, a little cool design ain’t bad.

So wrap it all up and pack it into the Think Tank Airport International
, and this set-up goes with me all over the world. On board, in the hands.

On site, it always gets broken down and transported in another bag, it could be ThinkTank Urban Disguise, or a Crumpler 8 million dollar home, or a Lowepro Sling bag, or maybe just an Oakley backpack.
Whatever the venue is, the bag is appropriate, and I’ve used them all. Lots of factors come into play, and your mileage may vary.
So that is an overview of what travels around the world me these day.
Sometimes, additional lenses, always a Flip UltraHD Camcorder,
, rechargeable batts with the charger packed in the suitcase, mini power strips in the states, a 3M privacy screen for the laptop, especially on the plane. best for everyone.

What do you take on your trips?
Maybe we can highlight one of you every month and we can share some tips.
Email or comment right here with any questions you may have.

Tags: Canon SD 780is, Crumpler, D700, Delkin, Digital imaging, DSLR, Flip Video, HD Video, Hoodman, Joby Gorillapod, Lexar, Litepanels LED, Nikon D700, photographer, photography, Sony HD tape, ThinkTank, XShot

“So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away” Paul Simon
Yeah, I know, everyone has been referencing this song.
Maybe because it’s easy.
Mostly because it was true.
A good friend of mine was the photographer for a major global advertising account, that shot in every exotic location you could imagine. And every possible light condition you could encounter.
The film he always used, of course, was Kodachrome. K64 to be exact.
Oh, he’d filter it, clip test it, push or pull the ASA (that’s what we called ISO then) and use Nikon F2 and F3’s to expose it all. Being way before 9/11, the customs situation was not that much of an issue.
Once back in the states, he would hunch over his massive light table, loupe in one hand, bringing each mounted frame up to his eye for the edit.
And there were thousands of frames.
Once the final edit was sent to the ad agency, they used these images for everything from a matchbook cover , to a massive billboard.
The grain structure of those 35mm frames held, for the whole range of sizes. Beautifully. The power and quality of that film stock was unmistakable, and unquestionable.
I still have sheets and sheets of select K64 images, and boxes and boxes of full sessions, and of course, slide reels of these beauties.
They still look great. Those far off places still feel exotic.
Kodachrome was not really marketed to the pro as much as the amateur. It had a sweet leeway of exposure which was very forgiving.
Things were not always as automatic as they are today, but cameras did have some suggested exposure based on full sun, cloudy , shade or indoor lighting.

The richer, brighter, colors were perfect for the family photos, even as the culture only allowed certain elements and genders to appear so.
Come vacation time, that set of rules went away, as all of the accoutrements of a work-free environment, stood for fun.
No blackberries, unless you were picking them and eating them. Apple products were put into pies.
Dad didn’t bring his laptop to “be in touch”, and face time was used, instead of facebook.
I’m not judging here. My family rarely picked blackberries.
But someone always had a camera.
So it is with a slight sigh, that we say goodbye to Kodachrome, as Kodak made their announcement, last Monday, that production would finally cease after 74 years.
I haven’t shot with it for years. there is only one lab in this country that will process it.
However, it has gone the way of the dodo. Except with a lot of memories in it’s wake.

The giveaway this week, is a book of tribute to that emulsion.
Americans In Kodachrome definitely pays tribute to the family, and the visual history they all created, with a common paint palette. Like all art, whether it is high minded or vernacular in scope, each artisan, or craftsman uses the paint differently. Different brushes, different subjects, different canvas.

“Introduced in 1935 as the first modern color film, Kodachrome was used extensively after World War II by amateur photographers equipped with the new high-quality and low cost 35mm cameras. Americans in Kodachrome is an unprecedented portrayal of the daily life of the people during these formative years of modern American culture and is comprised of ninety-five exceptional color photographs made by over ninety unknown American photographers. Conceived as a book and nation-wide exhibition, Americans in Kodachrome 1945-1965 is an evocative and haunting portrait of a historic generation of Americans.”

I’ve ordered a copy of that book to send to one of you and hopefully it will be delivered to us soon.
If not, another book on the Kodachrome subject : Kodachrome: The American Invention of Our World, 1939-1959
, will be substituted.
Another change this week is that the NEWSLETTER will come out on Thursday, not Weds.
Sorry, just putting together some new stuff, and came back to office later then I thought.
So sign up for the NEWSLETTER, now that you have more time, and look for details on getting this free tribute to Kodachrome, included in that email.

Say, how did anyone feel about the advertising business coverage last week?
we have a few more vids we’ll share with you coming up and want to see if it’s too much off mark, or there is some interest.
Post a comment or email us privately.
Thanks.

Tags: advertising, ASA, cameras, color film, ISO, Kodachrome, Kodak, Nikon, photographer, photography

It has been an amazing week of screening work, checking it online, powerful seminars with the smartest people on the planet, and seeing our friends from previous years, at the 2009 Cannes Lions Advertising Festival.

Toss that all together onto the Riviera, and you have a pretty solid festival.
Even with the numbers down both in entries and delegates, the even has been one of the richest in years.
The work has been selective and the Lions organizers made sure to schedule high quality seminars every day, all week.
As a matter o fact it has been the seminars which are the big draw, with massive line-ups for each.
Kofi Annan, Bob Geldof, Spike Lee, Miami Steve Van Zandt, Roger Daltry, and the top marketing minds from the interactive and advertising business.

more photos after he jump
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: advertising, Bob Geldof, Cannes Lions Festival, Canon SD780is, Digital imaging, Kofi Annan, Mad men, Nikon D700, photography, Roger Daltry, Sir Martin Soreel, Spike Lee

Well , we are seeing the crowds beat a steady rhythm around the Palais (fancy term for the convention center) flocking to, and exiting, the seminars en masse. And you can see the seminars for yourself, for free, @ canneslions.com. A first for this event. And you should take advantage of it, just for the information given by some of the best minds in the marketing world.
The screening rooms are a little less populated, but the titanium and integrated sections appear to be booming. If all of that sounds like a language you can’t understand, go to this site, Cannes Lions, and it will be made clearer.
The main thing we are noticing is the chatter about the new economy and how everyone will fit into it. Or not.
It is generally agreed that the massive layoffs at the agencies are jobs that just aren’t coming back. Not that personnel won’t be needed when things pick back up, but not the positions that have been eliminated. It will all be leaner and meaner to be sure, and the skill sets required are just being figured out. And the seminars seem to give folks some comfort in figuring out what may be next for them.
If you have been fully immersed in the digital space, it’s not so much new info, as a confirmation.
A smaller crowd, but incredible insights.
by the way, this campaign just won the Grand Prix for outdoor advertising.

And smoothies by Liquidchefs.
Watermelon and basil smoothie,

sounds bad, but tastes great!.

And if you didn’t want the freebie T, Uniqlo had an exclusive line for to purchase. Or bring back as gifts ” My boss went to Cannes and all I got was this crappy T-Shirt”. No, they didn’t really say that.

and just a quiet moment on a pier. You need one of those every now and again.

Before we go, here is your daily video.

So goodnight from the Lions! see you tomorrow!

Tags: advertising, Cannes Lions, liquid chef, photography, T-shirts, Uniqlo, youtube