By now, the iPad has become a huge boon to all photographers and any image makers.
Not only does it act as a lightweight, 10 hour battery life computer, but the apps available that have been designed to make our photographic lives easier is growing daily and we are fully immersed in the system, and what it can do to help.
Of course, you also have to support it somehow.
In a very physical sense.
We love it for the wi-fi, tethered mode, that allows us to watch the computer screen , while our clients watch the iPad screen, wirelessly, where ever they need to be in the studio. On the phone, in a another room, or just sitting on the client couch.
We will be speaking about the best software we’ve found for this, and how to use that workflow, but for right now, lets talk grip gear. Of sorts. 2 ways to go.

•1
The heavy duty unit here from Tether Tools, is this Wallee iPad system. Consisting of the main 4 bladed mounting module, the head also has Arca style mounting grooves,1/4″-20 tripod head, 3/8″ tripod mount, 5/8″ Pin for light stands and clamps. Zacuto adapter also available.

The unit is attached to a Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm in this photo
Then you place the Wallee iPad holder over the blades.

Then rotate and the holder is locked.

Here is the whole configuration, with the arm in a random position:

•2
Then we have another solution from Delkin.
A much lighter holder is used, with a 1/4″-20 threaded socket built in.

4 very secure clip-in bits hold the iPad safely.

Now you can mount on a tripod or any other 1/4″-20 device.
You can also use the Fat Gecko suction mount from Delkin, and incorporate the quick release mount. Honestly, that is what the holder was originally designed for. Never stops us from multi-tasking.

With this simple system the iPad is very light when not mounted into any stand, so hand holding transition is easy. As well, with the TetherTools set-up, once the hub is off, you have a lightweight back protector for your iPad

So which system is better?

The Tether Tools has beautifully machined parts which add weight and expense. The Wallee system covers the entire back of the iPad. Multiple options for mounting is always a plus. Take off the mounting hub and your iPad has a good protector on the back plus will work with the iPad 2 magnetic case. And remember, this is a system, as illustrated in this video:

The Delkin system strips down the the parts to the essentials, and in doing so, lightens the load. Especially useful if you are mounting the iPad in odd angles. This couples with the Fat Gecko suction system, and the 1/4″-20 can be used on most tripods.

Costs: Delkin is about $21.00 USD. TetherTools system comes in about $120. USD.

Another case of the right tool, for the right job. You choose. We like the products out of both companies

Next up: our favorite software solution for wireless viewing of your shoot with the iPad.

If you’ve ever been to London, a trip to Abbey Road Studios is no doubt in the cards. You may stand at that famous street in front where the 4 Beatles walked across to create the cover of the Abbey Road album.

Of course you and your mates/family will recreate that shot hopefully standing in the same spot as the photographer did for that famous photo.

But it won’t be the same now, will it?

In a related story, the folks at National Geographic this month, sent out a photographer to do a similar thing, except this time using the work of Ansel Adams as a guide.

“On his first trip to the Sierra Nevada, in June of 1916, Ansel Adams went armed with a camera—a Kodak No. 1 Brownie—and started shooting. “I expect to be broke if I keep up the rate I am taking pictures,” the budding 14-year-old photographer wrote to his Aunt Mary in San Francisco that summer. “I have taken 30 already.”

He kept shooting for almost seven decades, until his death at age 82 in 1984, by which time he had become a world-famous photographer and a powerful voice for wilderness. Although he traveled far and wide, he returned again and again to the Sierra—”a noble gesture of the earth,” in his phrase—for the adventure, artistic inspiration, friendship, and solace he found among its jagged granite peaks, snow-swept passes, and brooding skies. His uncompromising portrayal of these subjects still draws pilgrims to the wilderness that bears his name, deep in the heart of the High Sierra, in hopes of seeing what Ansel Adams saw there.”

excerpt printed with permission from National Geographic Society. Full article here.

And the “pilgrims” it brought this time included nature photographer Peter Essick.

©Peter Essick/National Geographic

©Peter Essick/National Geographic

These images and the full story are in the current issue of National Geographic Magazine, Oct. 2011. Plus yu get some insight fro Ansel Adam son who joined in the search for the exact spots that his father may have placed is tripod, years ago.

Yes, everyone’s eye is different, and even though every major tourist location has a sign: “Best Place To Take Photo”, well it may not be.
The wilderness of the High Sierra proved that.

Mr. Essick’s photographs don’t look similar to Mr. Adams’s, now do they?

Check out the full story in the issue through this link.

On our last trip to NYC, we made a stop at one of our favorite buildings in Manhattan: The Fuller Building.
Stocked pretty full with some great galleries, a standout for us is the Howard Greenberg Gallery.
His sensibility speaks to us in the consistently high grade shows, and yes, we have purchased from them.
Chances are you won’t see the massive prints of Gregory Crewdson here, but you will see a Saul Leiter show. The classic are where they tend to go, so if there is a vintage print you’re after for your collection, we highly recommend this gallery.

OK, back to the iPad involvement.

The show is: BEYOND WORDS: PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE NEW YORKER
In the mid 90’s, Elisabeth Biondi became the visual editor at The New Yorker magazine ( you should get the iPad version. Probably some of the best writing in a magazine today) and she was charged with increasing the photographic presence in the publication.
And she did.
By working with a core group of some of the best portraitists, photojournalists, and editorial photographers the pages became punctuated with images throughout, surrounded by the brilliant writing. A perfect match.

Highlighted in this show are some of the portraits used in conjunction with feature articles on people of note.
There are iconic images, as well as photographs you most likely missed, unless you have been a subscriber.

Get ready to spend some time though, because the gallery has added a deeper experience with the images:
When you walk in the door, mounted to the wall on your left, is an iPad on an extendable arm.

They have downloaded each of the corresponding articles to the portraits, for you to read.
Each article is separately laid out on the iPad shelf, and you know, just a tap and a swipe will get you through.

It will truly enhance your understanding and appreciation of each image.
This use of the iPad, was the first we’d seen in a gallery, although on a recent trip to the Getty in LA, there were iPads and headphones all over the current Pacific Standard Time exhibition.

The New Yorker collection itself is well curated by the person who was in charge of that dept at the mag, Elisabeth Biondi.
Not to be missed, it goes till Oct. 22nd.

Maybe you’ll be tempted to pick out a gem for your collection, and leave your iPad out so your viewing guests will get that same experience.

The set of PDF’s are not available as a set, unless you go through and download them yourself, however.
hmmmm, maybe a new publication medium; on the wall and in your hands.
There is only one iPad at the gallery so read, but be polite to the other viewers.

Howard Greenberg Gallery
41 East 57th Street, Suite 1406
New York, NY 10022
Tel: 212-334-0010 Fax: 212-941-7479
info@howardgreenberg.com
www.howardgreenberg.com

Photo to the right:
©George Silk, Cartoonist Charles Addams, 1948

There have been recent discoveries of photographers work, which during the artists lifetimes, went somewhat unnoticed.
Like Vivian Maier, whose vast body of work was uncovered via an estate sale, or the personal work of Saul Leiter, who, although still with us, had found boxes of his old transparencies in recent years, causing a huge current interest in his personal fine art work.

We hope that we have found the work of Hadi Salehi, and can help present it to the world, before time marches on.

A few weeks ago, we spent some time interviewing him, in his cottage, which was filled to the brim with well organized print boxes, negative boxes, and a sweet collection of fine jazz albums.

A former instructor at Art Center in Pasadena, California, he has rarely showed his work, but a few early fans and collectors have now convinced him it is time. Of course the collectors hope to add to their walls before the prices skyrocket, which they will.

The interviews have been broken up into 3 parts: The History, The Work , and yes, The Gear.
At the end of the Gear video, this long time instructor and fine artist, give some sage advice to the new photographers.
Wise words from a gentle, talented, soul.

This is the Work video.
Please be advised that at the start of the video, he shows a very strong image of a ritual, that may be disturbing. About 53 total seconds.

The Gear:

The History:

Once you’ve watched the videos, visit his site for more.

Here are some of the images:

Continue Reading »

One of the photographic jewels in Los Angeles is the Annenberg Space for Photography.
Funded by the Annenberg Foundation, and led by Wallis Annenberg, this unique edifice is dedicated to the art and power of photography, and remains a free place to visit for all.

We have been fans since before they broke ground, and want to do everything to celebrate and spread the word about their offerings.
Not only are there provocative, enlightening, entertaining, and thought provoking exhibits, both on the walls and on their massive 4k HD screens, but there are lectures in support of those exhibits.

Sure, if you are in LA as a resident or just passing through, you have the opportunity to attend one of these lectures, called Iris Nights, for free, live, and just $1.00 for parking.

OK, forget about the money part, you get the opportunity to hear from the artists themselves or perhaps in conversation with a journalist or associate.
From Neil Leifer to Nikki Sixx, Steve McCurry to Susan Anderson, Leonard Nimoy, Lauren Greenfield, Larry Towell, Jill Greenberg, Walter Iooss, Douglas Kirkland and a ton more.

A Ton more? How about this: Thursday they celebrate their 100th Lecture! Yes, that’s quite a photographic milestone.

Here is the best part: Even if you don’t live in LA, you can access the lectures online. An incredible collection of photographic insight.
Just go to the HOME page, click on the events/ groups tab, and select Iris Nights
Then click on any one of the previous exhibit names, and you’ll be taken to a viewing screen with all of the related lectures.
If you are passionate about photography on any level, you just can’t miss this stuff.

( Hmmmmm… I wonder if they’ll have cake to celebrate? )

The Space is open Wed-Sun: 11am – 6pm
2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
tel: 213.403.3000