With digital photography, it’s very easy and fun to get caught up in using the multitude of effects programs out there. Nik has been a joy to use to achieve some astonishing treatments.

Recently, though to no surprise, I shot a few exposures of a tree next to a stoplight at dusk. I was struck with how well the shots looked. While I do try to learn the technical aspects of photography and practice them, sometimes things just work and you go with what feels right. So here are two of the shots (green didn’t turn out too well so I’ll pass on that, it was out of focus)

SLOW DOWN!

and of course STOP!

As I move into the field of photography for hire, I realize that I need to work advance my in camera skills and eye with minimal “extra” processing. I will never stray from taking shots of locks or doors, and going crazy with them. I want to be able to create art, while also creating memories for people. My vision is for my style to be unique to me, and that potential clients find that appealing. Sure I have photographers I look up to, but I’d like to own my style of photography.

Link and blog title from Photofocus and Scott Bourne.

*********

With the announcement of the Apple iPad today, I certainly see how much of a tool this can be for professional photographers in their arsenal.  Whether its to present your work to clients, complete paperwork, or reading a good book on improving your skills (ok, so that part I really had to think of real quick), I see so many upsides to this product.

The iPhone has been a fantastic part of my reportoire, from the different photo apps to organizational items.  The inclusion of iWork and iBook are really fantastic.  Now, I will always wait for the bugs and kinks to be ironed out, but as I move forward with building my photography business, this is one product that I can see down the line being very beneficial.

Below is a link to an article by Scott Bourne about what the iPad may mean for photographers.  An excellent read and I completely agree with his points.

Bravo Apple!

~John

Click here.  Very informative article:

What the Apple Tablet Will Mean to Photographers « Photofocus.

Just a poll on which one you use.  Mainly out of curiosity.

~John

In reflecting back recently, I wanted to post about some of the books that I have found most influential in my growth as a photographer.  I highly respect each and every author and their advice, techniques and words of wisdom are worth reading.

Scott Kelby and “The Digital Photography Boxed Set, Volumes 1-3″

Written in an easy to understand, casual style, Scott takes you through almost every aspect of photography and includes pretty much every useful tip that you could think of.  He has no qualms about pointing you in the direction of equipment to suit your needs based on your budget, or naming products he thinks are absolutely necessary.  An excellent series for those starting out and a fantastic refresher for the established photographer.

Brian Peterson and “Understanding Exposure”

More than any other book, Brian has explained through his prose and wonderful photographs, how to interpret light and exposure.  I know many consider this to be the “Bible” of photographic exposure.

Brian Peterson and “Learning to See Creatively”

This book by Brian Peterson really helped me develop my creative eye, and think in a completely different way and see things around me that I would often overlook.  Another excellent read!

Michael Freeman’s “The Photographers Eye”

Just a fantastically visual book on composition and design.  This really made me think a lot more about the way I compose my shots beyond simply the rule of thirds, etc…

Scott Kelby and “The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers”

Though I did start out using Apple Aperture exclusively, I see that Lightroom will be more practical for shooting large events (weddings, parties, etc…).  Thus I refer back to Kelby who is the resident expert on all things Adobe.  Great book.  Easy to read.  Highly recommended.  Can’t wait for the full version of Lightroom 3 and i’m sure his next version.

Joe McNally’s “The Hot Shoe Diaries”

A great read on how photographers achieved certain shots using flash units.  Less of a how to work a flash than a “this is how I got this particular shot”.  Opens your mind to what you can do with flash.

Chase Jarvis’ “The Best Camera is the One That’s With You”

Of course, I had to include this book because Chase’s work with the iPhone has been very inspirational.  It floors me to see what you can do with this little 2 or 3 megapixel camera and some apps, not the least of which is his own. Chase has also combined the book, the iPhone app and a great streaming site simultaneously to really make using the iPhone as a strong piece of photographic equipment.  For many of us, it is hard to carry around our Canon dSLR’s everywhere, but we can take our phone everywhere and catch things we normally would miss.  This book and the images on his site exemplify this point perfectly.  Also it’s a damn good coffee table book!

That’s it for right now.  I hope that you take a look at these great resources and perhaps find them as useful as I have.  I’m sure there are more out there, so if you have any suggestions, leave some in the comments section!

~John

Chase Jarvis Blog: There Are No Excuses.

An excellent blog post by Chase.  Very inspirational

Hopefully if you are reading this, you are having a nice holiday season.  It’s almost time to ring in 2010, and I’ve had the chance to both reflect on the last decade, and ponder what this coming year (and beyond) will hold in store.

A lot has happened in the last 10 years.  I got my first “real” job after graduating from Boston University, very early on in 2000.  Just a year and a half later, was the most horrific event I have ever seen, 9/11.  To this day I can remember every minute of that day, and my 3+hour rescue mission into Hoboken to pick up Claudia, who was working on the upper east side.  Nothing can compare to the panic, sights and smells of that evening across the river from the WTC.

The past 10 years also found the building of a family with getting married in 2003 and now, just a few short months away from having a beautiful set of twins enter this world.  We couldn’t be more excited!

As for photography, what started as a passing interest turned into a hobby.  Somewhere around two years ago I realized that if I put the effort, time and education into it, that I could turn my hobby into much more.  The past year has reinforced that, as I’ve sold several prints, cards, keychains, promoted myself locally and donated several shots to a silent charity auction.  That in particular was special, since I was considered an “artist”, something that I never, ever though would be uttered in the same sentence as my name!  Now, as the new year approaches, I’m getting ready to make my next leap, a big one for me, into becoming a for hire photographer.

My aim for my business is to continue to promote and sell fine art prints, but also to work with clients to photograph their special occasions, be it a wedding, engagement, senior portrait or anything else.  Getting started will not be easy, but hopefully by this time next year I will have had some clients and begun to build up my portfolio.

Just wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

John

Wanted to post some examples showing what the lo-mob app for the iPhone (lo-mob)

The first shot is the original, taken with my iPhone camera earlier this morning. The following shots were all processed using the app.

I’ve been pretty impressed with this app on particular. I’m a big fan of the vintage look and this app does a great job of bringing the way film exposures were processed to the digital world, as well as that of the iPhone.