A short while back, we told about this artist selling off every day in the calendar year to you and you alone.
You can buy a day, add a concept, stir in a bit of background and Shane Rich will cook you up a heaping plate of photographic goodness promoting…whatever the heck you WANT!
Your business, [...]

For a photojournalist, the question is never about can they get the access to the get shot.
That is the job. They’ll be there.
It’s what they do once they get there.
In the 60’s and 70’s Southeast Asia was the horrific theater for war, and photojournalists were on the front lines, providing the most intimate look of [...]

Well, the most emotionally charged, personal connection filled, holiday is almost here.
St. Valentine’s Day.
The pressure to express your love for another is never greater than on this day.
But what is the right way to do that?

These classic candy hearts, with their messages of love, have recently been updated to include “Text Me” and Tweet Me”, [...]

We are always looking for great ideas from photographers to share with you, and this one just started the new year off right.
Taking the concept of a Photo-A-Day for 365 days, photographer Shane Rich not only plussed it but made it a business.

365 Day photography Project feeds Starving Artist
And the way he went about it [...]

One of the more surprising exhibitors at CES was the Herman Miller design company.
Amongst all of the gadgets and gizmos, 3D TV’s, E -reader/slates, phones, and power devices, was a chair. And a desk
What a brilliant call to show off the latest items.
We all spend many, many hours in a chair, sitting at a desk, [...]

Here is another post from one of our fave photo writers, Daniel Milnor.
Not only an incredible photographer, his viewpoint has just the right amount of cynicism to suit us.
This time out, he’s in the Big Apple. While we were checking out gear, he was checking the streets.

I was in New York and I had [...]

One thing we will be starting to do here is highlight the work of some of our readers.
This article about Lucia De Giovanni came to us and felt like a great place to start.
It was written by Linda Rubright, and with her permission, we reprint it here:
I write this from the coffee shop where I [...]

One of our regular readers, Fred Bonilla, asked if we could post this item. At first we agreed in concept, but weren’t sure how folks that were not in the best of circumstances would react to having a portrait made. When things aren’t great, people may feel they are not looking their best and [...]

Are you ready to give multimedia a shot? You know, are you a still photographer adding motion and sound into your mix ?
Assignment shooters are coming into a time where they are being required to do just that.
Lets, see…. you’ll need some microphones, a digital audio, recorder, good headphones, you DSLR, and a way to [...]

Yeah, we know.
Looks like a similar title to the last one.
Well, when you have 2 masters together in one place, you want to give them equal billing.
Tonight there will be a gala opening for the show Sport: Iooss and Leifer at The Annenberg Space for Photography, and it opens to the public tomorrow, [...]

Yesterday at the Annenberg Space for Photography, we were given a preview of the new exhibit Sport: Iooss and Leifer.
And luckily, the two photographic masters were on hand to chat a little bit about their life and work.

© Walter Iooss
Michael Phelps, Balitmore, MD, 2004
The first video chat we’ll present is with Walter Iooss.
The few [...]

The Annenberg Space for Photography is continuing on the fulfillment of their mission statement.
“Exhibit the various facets of the human condition, as seen through the medium of photography.”
Well, that’s how we see it, anyway.
This time it’s SPORT.
Not only the sports with the teams you may follow, but the excellence of seemingly super natural human [...]

Can’t help it.
Every time we go to NYC, the time spent in the subway brings this book, Many Are Called , by Walker Evans, to mind.
In a strange way, nothing much seems to have changed, from when this was first photographer in the late 1930’s
There are iPods and electronics to keep people in [...]

Well, the floor was bit less crowded today, but the seminars, keynote, and booth presentations were pretty well filled.
PhotoPlus Expo 2009 was coming to a close.
Business still seemed brisk as people were people all of the items they may have been checking out the previous coupla days.
We also made some last stops and shot a [...]

Been another day at the Javits Center and have doing a huge amount of video taping of the new products to get you a front row seat for all of the new photo goods we could get to.
Honestly, they are some long days, the dogs are barking so we’ll be posting some pics for right [...]

Photographer Thomas Allen prefers to see things just as he likes, not as he finds them.
Of course he gets some help from classically illustrated pulp novels.
It’s unique process, as he lives far from a city in Michigan, scouring through online book stores to see where the proper visual elements may come from.
He then buys the [...]

When I was kid, the concept of becoming a fashion photographer seemed pretty cool.
Not so much the Funny Face/Avedon type, but the slightly grittier version.
Photograph beautiful women, cool cars, party time?
C’mon, I was raised in an apartment building in New Jersey.
There were minor and hard to find glimpses of that life for an adolescent [...]

There is no excuse not to get the true color of your photographs. At least as your starting point.
How about we help make it easier for you?
This weeks giveaway is an XRite ColorChecker Passport, one of the best tools we’ve seen to get the job done.

Easy to carry, can be used in a one [...]

That’s just how I look at it.
Whenever people are gathering, you have an opportunity to have your camera out and be working on your skills, figuring out things on the camera, experimenting with techniques, and perhaps honing your skills in approaching folks with a camera.

You can call it street photography, photojournalism, or whatever [...]

In the 2nd part of this special HD video with a DSLR , “What’s in the Bag” segment, photographer Chris Weeks shows you the whole rig set up and ready to go.
Plus there is the all important sound tip in there that you can’t miss.
Here is the honest truth about a couple of things:
The [...]

In another installment of “Whats’ In The Bag” photographer Chris Weeks shows us how he’s making the addition and transition to video.
As the photo agencies, like AP, Getty and Corbis, are asking their contract and freelance photographers to start adding video coverage to the mix, a whole new animal has raised it’s head.
And [...]

A few weeks ago, we ran into a photographer at an event in Hollywood, and since we usually chat up the shooters, this time was no exception.
Chris Weeks is a freelance photographer based in LA, who has one of the freshest takes on the standard assignments that occur in a photogs life.
Check out the [...]

Oh, we know you’ve already got it down.
But I know there isn’t one of us that couldn’t use a little refresher. Or perhaps just a way to explain things to your friends who all look at you as the photo guru.
Sure, we’ve seen it.
You may just know how to do what you do photographically [...]

As promised, here is the second part of the three part series. Note that there are other photographers represented here, Severin Koller, Frank Jackson and Mario Anzuoni, in addition to Chris Weeks, representing their own style of street photography.

Enjoy!

A few weeks ago we met Chris Weeks at an event in Hollywood. He was photographing the event, a gallery opening, with a very distinctive set-up: not only was he using multiple DSLR’s but he was toting a Leica.
That alone was enough to strike up a conversation.
We started to discuss the advent of HD Video [...]

Since they opened in the Spring, the Annenberg Space for Photography has been offering us a chance to hear from working photographers, speaking about their work, and sharing images, both part of our visual collective and some so personal you gain a new insight into the mind behind the camera.
What a great way to start [...]

It’s about the summer heat and the winter chill.
Photographer Saul Leiter, was able to bring a temperature gauge to his photographs, along with a gritty city feel, that put you there.
Whether it was his photographs of a waiter working in the sweltering humidity, or his classic wintry window, that let you experience the season with [...]

Seriously.
We were working on an article about tethered shooting, when this came along.
Tethered shooting; you know, where your camera is USB connected to your computer, and as you shoot, the photographs get displayed on your computer monitor, be it laptop or desktop.
Very handy to see what the heck you have, and let your [...]

…for about 2.5 hours on this very solid DVD with Bob Krist and Joe McNally (yep,there he is again), Nikon School Presents A Hands-On Guide to Creative Lighting
We love it when the manufacturers take it upon themselves to teach you about the products they sell.
No, really.
Yes, they are promoting their products, but the information [...]

Sound a little like a line from a song out of the 60’s?
Yep, it is.
Woodstock it is, my friends, and on this 40th Anniversary of that event, you cannot miss the images or the tributes.
Or how about a movie based on the actual event? Taking Woodstock directed by Ang Lee opens this week.
The [...]

You may know Joe McNally from his speedlight adventures on the Strobist, or teaching his methods for getting some great photojournalistic shots.
Quite honestly, our first encounter with Mr. McNally’s work was an exhibit at the Skirball Museum in Los Angeles of his massive over life sized, Polaroid portraits of the Faces of Ground Zero.
In the [...]

You don’t usually get a chance to meet the photojournalists that cover the atrocities of war.
Most of the time they are on the front lines covering the event, or hanging in the local hospitals finding out where the most dangerous areas are.
And then going in and getting the most harrowing looking images you may [...]

We have the pleasure of watching most of the DVD’s made of biographies of photographers. From the 10 min. quickie hits of the Contacts series to the PBS versions of insights into an artists life, such as the Contacts series
Our shelves are filled with a few hundred of these, as we collect what may be [...]

When you hear about an actors passions other than what they are famous for, you may sometimes wonder: is it the fame that legitimizes the other endeavors? Or, in the case of Jessica Lange, can you look at her photographs and be fully objective on their merit ?
Quite honestly, we feel that there will never [...]

Sorry, but this is not really new news.
Those spinning plates holding your precious data, and yes, I mean photographs, will only really spin for so long.
That’s why we are always advocating a good back up plan. As does everyone else in the industry.
OK, that’s the info, what are some other methods to save [...]

We got our hands on a copy of Photo Mechanic recently, and got stuck on a late night jag working through the program.
OK, it’s an asset management program, which has been used by pro photojournalists, event photogs and anyone that needs to get their work somewhere fast, for years. And the latest version seems to [...]

This has got to be one of our new favorite books.
Photographing America: Henri Cartier-Bresson / Walker Evans is on the coffee table and in 2 days, has been opened about 6 times.
Actually, that’s a lot in a short time.
Now , this is a book we first found in Paris last fall, while visiting [...]

On Saturday July 18th, 2009 there were 913 separate photowalks taking place globally.
What the heck is a photowalk
Well, you take a group of like minded folks, photographers in this case, assemble them, and together, you walk along a prescribed path taking photographs, socializing, discussing gear, sharing images, and generally hanging out with a group of [...]

We lost one of the masters on Weds. Night., July 15th, 2009
At 98 years old “One Shot “ Shulman, never stopped.
Never stopped shooting, (he photographed the new Annneberg Space for Photography this spring) and never stopped touching the lives of so many people.
His subjects were the Modernism architecture of people like Neutra ,Frank Lloyd [...]

Photographer, director, and artist Patrick Hoelck has had a very busy life.

We feature him here for a couple of reasons; he is a crazy good photographer, just completed his first feature film with Scott Caan, who starred/wrote/ produced it called “Mercy”, and he stirred up the photo pot quite a bit with his online magazine [...]

When you’re carrying around a heavy duty camera and a solid piece of glass on your shoulders all day, you could uses break.
Sure it’s cool to declare your camera manufacturer allegiance on the strap, although haven’t you already done that with the camera?
It’s time for relief.
From 1st hand experience, this Industry Disgrace Camera Strap, from [...]

“You have to see things other people don’t want to see. You have to do your job”
Colin Crawford, Director of Photography Los Angeles Times
And that job has been examined and celebrated in the second exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography, the new photographic jewel in the crown of Los Angeles.
A joint effort with the [...]

Yesterday I did a pre-walk around Chinatown getting ready for the July 18th Global Photowalk.
A little Dim Sum, some conversation, and a bit of GPS photowork. I know, a slow Sunday.
While downtown, no visit is complete without a walk around some of the available art.
And now at MOCA is an exhibit of the complete set [...]

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 [...]

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.
[...]

“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 [...]

..to the 2nd day of screenings and seminars at the Cannes Lions Ad Festival!

The crowds came into the Palais to check out the shortlist for the print/ poster/and outdoor awards, and managed to fill the space nicely.

People were in at 9:00AM sharp to see who made the cut. this is a fraction of the crowd.
But [...]

OK, day one at the Cannes Lions Ad festival. well, almost day one. Night one is more like it.

a favorite watering hole, soon to be overrun by ad folk.
You don’t have to work in advertising to know that the ad industry has been affected by the “new” economy, like every one else.
But advertising is a [...]

One of the all time classic lines delivered to Jack Nicholson at the end of the movie “Chinatown”.
On July 18th, 2009, we are leading a Photowalk there, joining simultaneous photowalks all over the world.

Scott Kelby and NAPP are running this second annual event, and there is a good chance there will be one in [...]

Last fall, we made a visit to NYC for PhotoPlus Expo and, of course, a stop at the International Center of Photography, or ICP.
Always a solid group of photography exhibits under one roof, and this time was no exception. A celebration of the tintype, filled the back room with over 150 images, all captured [...]

Check out what the pros use.
Every time we go to an event our eyes are on the photogs to see what they use to get the money.
The right stuff. The real deal. the gear. The goods. We ask questions too.
And we have found a couple of items that are pretty easy to find and can [...]

Ahhh, the sweet smell of commencement!
Caps and gowns, mortar boards and diplomas. Politicians, celebrities, and business men address the graduates with pithy, sometimes inspirational, sometimes trite, and usually a coda to a turning point in your life.
Or someone you know.
And what about the memories of your years? Is it all encapsulated in a yearbook? [...]

We’re talking about the video portion of our program.
The video you make with your still camera.
No we’re not going to go to the D90 and Canon Rebel series. Yet.
And the 5D MKII will have to wait.
Let’s start small. And relatively accessible for the wallet. Add video in your pocket. While we are test driving the [...]

Of course you remember the famous scene of Keanu Reeves in the Matrix, dodging bullets by inhumanly leaning backwards, and you got to study the moment from all 360 degrees.
Pretty darn cool.
And you know how they did it? Still cameras. A whole bunch of them. And powerful computers, spiffy software, and patience. It [...]

Last night at the M+B gallery in Los Angeles a new exhibit opened called BARACK OBAMA: THE FRESHMAN.
The photographer, Lisa Jack, a fellow student at Occidental college, photographed our future president at 20.
This single roll of film, comprises this show and give a tiny, fleeting, glimpse of the man would make history.

© Lisa Jack
On the [...]

While attending an event at a local museum, The Hammer, we made sure to get there early to wander around and catch up on the exhibits that we had missed.
One in particular struck us, not as much for the art itself, but for the concept.
To wit:
“The Darker Side of Light: Arts of Privacy, 1850-1900 draws [...]

Patrick Hoelck is a well respected commercial photographer, artist and now, film director. He is the creator and captain behind a new online magazine, Pilfered.
Now in the world of advertising, photographers and directors are asked to present a visual interpretation of how they would approach a concept or creative brief. This, in addition to [...]

This man has a special mission and he is completing it with his photography.

Perhaps you are familiar with his work as a documentary photographer and his book “Workers”.
You may have just come to know him through his most recent work, “Africa”
The intensity of the images included in these tomes is matched by the passion, in [...]

We had the opportunity to meet with photographer Mark Savage awhile back at the Corbis offices in Los Angeles.
This passionate shooter shares with you, not only what he uses daily in his profession, but why. And some great insights into the job.
So if you are considering this profession, or you’d like to meet one [...]

Sure, the concept of paparazzi was popularized in the days of La Dolce Vita.
Yes, celebrities have always been sought after for exclusive personal photos, although never to the extent the paps go after them now. Celebrity magazines have been around since…..well, since Hollywood began.
We’re not back that far (yet) but only to the 70’s.
Brad Elterman [...]

There is an incredible French restaurant in Santa Monica called “Michaels”
Located just off the promenade, this spot has been a classic mainstay in Los Angeles, renown for outstanding culinary delights, with Michael McCarty as your host.
We were invited to an exhibit of photographs there, opening tonight.
Who knew that this excellent restaurant had an exhibit space.
Who [...]

[photopress:various_3.jpg,full,centered]
Photo Studio Set recreation, using George Hurrell’s original Camera
The glamour of the screen actors from the beginning of the cinema in Hollywood, will be remembered not only by their immense bodies of work, but the photographs of George Hurrell.
Shooting on an 8×10 view camera, he captured all of the romance of the time [...]

The Annenberg Space For Photography will open in Los Angeles on March 27th, 2009!!
ok….what the heck is it?
Just the biggest photographic arts news for Los Angeles EVER!
Basically , a new photographic exhibition, seminar, workshop, lecture space funded by the Annenberg Foundation with a mission statement that says simply: ” to celebrate photography as an art [...]

Ahhhhh, chocolates, love, roses, the slow walk, the fast ride, and all of the things to give your mate that special knowledge that someone cares.
Take pictures, capture the day, moment, or the light falling on your loved one.
The light that makes your heart beat faster when it finds your special subject.
[photopress:decompression.jpg,full,centered]© DWebster
And not [...]

One of the most popular galleries at Paris-Photo last month, was the Jackson Gallery of Fine Art.
And the biggest draw were the photographs of Vee Speers.Click on the link and take a look at the series.
[photopress:Untitled__16.jpg,full,centered]© Vee Speers
The beautifully simple, desaturated yet crisp, photographs of children from her Birthday Party series, brought the attendees [...]

And the parade of new gear continues….
Today Canon introduced the EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR.[photopress:Canon_5D_Mark_II_flash.gif,full,alignright]
[photopress:Canon_5D_mark_II_top.jpg,full,alignright]
The successor to the EOS 5D launched in 2005, Canon a full-frame CMOS sensor, HD video capture. In addition to capturing full-HD 16:9 video clips at 1,920×1,080 resolution, the 5D Mark II features a 21.1 megapixel full-frame 24×36mm CMOS sensor, [...]

but I Like it, Like it, Yes I DO !
[photopress:DSC00625.jpg,full,centered]
Jim Marshall has photographed some of the most iconic rock and roll images of our time.
From the Beatles at Shea Stadium, Hendrix in his classic stance, Janis Joplin in repose avec bottle, Jim Morrison sucking up a smoke, Johnny Cash flipping you off, Miles Davis in [...]

It’s a bold statement to compare someone to W. Eugene Smith. But when Andre Hermann brought his work to the reviewing table at the Academy of Art, and showed his 10 images, I was emotionally sucker punched.
It was not just the situation of the subject, Garrett, it was the way his story was told.
With an [...]