Gear I Use

Most of the gear I use is reasonably expensive.  Actually, I'm not sure that it makes sense to use the word reasonable in reference to things like a $5000 camera body or $7000 lens, but such is the life of a photographer.  Today, however, I want to talk about a great piece of gear that costs about 20 bucks.  That's right, I said $20.

Don't believe me, follow the jump for more.

Part 2

So...I'm sure most of you figured out that I was shooting the Markus Naslund pre-game ceremony and Vancouver Canucks hockey game.

 

Markus Naslund's number being retired

More after the jump...

Part 1

So, for the two part reveal...

The Hall of Heroes at Rogers Arena

Photo and more after the jump...

Something Different...

I'm shooting for Canadian Press tomorrow.  I haven't really done much work for the wire services in over 15 years.  I'm not telling you what it is, you'll have to check back tomorrow and Sunday for updates.


Can you guess what I'm going to be covering?

Behind the picture...

Doing this job is a privilege.  It is a privilege that I have worked very hard to earn, and with it, the right to call myself a photographer.  Part of what makes it a privilege is that occasionally I get to see some things, do some things, and meet some people who are very interesting.  Every once and a while I meet someone who is fascinating, someone who is known around the world, and is making history.

A few years ago I had the chance to meet two of those people at the same time.  It was, to say the least, an awesome experience.  The word awesome gets overused, especially in less that truly awesome circumstances.  This was not one of them.

Follow the jump for the photo and more...

The Way I Roll...

Literally... I roll my camera case these days.  I have gotten to the age where I no longer feel the necessity to prove my manhood by carrying 45 lbs. of equipment slung over one shoulder.  At least that's what I tell myself, the reality is that I can't carry that much gear anymore, even if I wanted to.  I use a Think Tank, Airport International, and when I need my laptop, a Think Tank Urban Disguise 60, on most jobs these days.  Certainly there are times when everything has to go in a backpack, because a roller isn't practical, but anytime I can save my back, I will.  Even though I use an assistant on most jobs, I still lug gear around, and wheels are the way to go.

Photo and more after the jump...

Speedlight Bootcamp

I just finished up another fabulous week-end speedlight bootcamp, at Vancouver Photo Workshops, and wanted to share some of the photos.  Thanks to all of the participants for bringing an enthusiasm for learning that motivates me to teach.  Another big thank you to all of our models, without whom our shooting sessions just wouldn't be the same.  Trust me, you don't want to have to shoot pictures of me all week-end.  Thanks to Shazmin, Cecelia, Yusuf, and Eric.

We shot on location, and in the studio, with a pile of gear that required numerous sherpas to haul around.  I also have to thank my assistant , Eric, for knowing what I need, even before I do, and co-ordinating the above mentioned mountain of equipment.  Thanks too, to Marc Koegal, director of the truly awesome space that is V.P.W.  Another big thanks to Carol, at Nikon, for helping us out with Nikon Speedlights.

The always fabulous, Cecelia.

 More photos after the jump...

Joe

As a photographer, looking at other photographer's work is one of the most important things I do.  I love photography, and I love to look at pictures.  It's how I relax, get inspired, am awed, get scared, be entertained, you get the idea.  I look at pictures every day, from my students work to icons like W. Eugene Smith.  

Every once and a while, I meet another photographer whose work I admire.  I had that opportunity last week.

More after the jump...

Behind The Picture

I'm trying out a new topic here.  Explaining the story behind the picture.  Sometimes that will be details about the technical aspects, others will be about how a certain picture came to be anecdotally, or emotionally.  Please let me know, in the comments, what you think.  Also, if you can come up with a better subject line than "Behind The Picture" I will be grateful.

I'm starting with a photo that I have had a lot of comments and questions about in the past.

Follow the jump for more...

Open Call...

There's going to be a show at the Photohaus Gallery, and it's not too late to get your photos submitted.  The show is "Small Strobes-Big Ideas"  Submit your pictures that fit the theme and come to the opening. If you can't get your pictures in, at least come out to see the show at the opening.  Joe McNally is the evening's special guest.

Check it out here for more info.

Baseball...

According to Tallulah Bankhead, "There have been only two geniuses in the world: Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare."  With deference to Mays, and apologies to Shakespeare, I will attempt to explain my love for the game of baseball.  There is nothing I would rather shoot,  Simply put, baseball has everything a photographer could possibly want.  Action, beauty, grace, simplicity, character and more.

I started shooting baseball in 1986 in Montreal, the home of the now defunct Montreal Expos, for the wires and The Montreal Gazette.  The Expos were a great team, at times, others, not as great.  The Olympic Stadium was, unfortunately, a terrible place to shoot baseball.  The biggest problem was that the retractable roof of the stadium wasn't.  To be fair, I think they may have successfully opened the roof once or twice before the roof shredded, due to design flaws, and was eventually replaced with a roof that didn't open.  As well, large cement chunks of the building would fall onto the field from time to time.  Not quite the same experience as shooting at Wrigley Field.

Follow the jump for photos, and more...

Courses & Workshops…

A few announcements regarding some teaching that I will be doing in the next little while.

November 13, 2010:  Free DSLR workshop at Langara College.  This is for anyone with a digital SLR camera who is looking for some answers to some of the basic issues confronting today's photographer regarding workflow.  Some advice on how to set up your camera, importing to your computer, embedding IPTC information, RAW vs. JPEG, histograms, and colour management with Lightroom and Photoshop.  All this and more for FREE.  That's right FREE!  Call the Langara Cont. Studies office and register: 604.323.5322

November 27-28, 2010:  Speedlight Bootcamp at Vancouver Photo Workshops.  This is an intensive week-end workshop aimed at those looking to improve their lighting skills with hotshoe flashes, off camera.  Saturday's all day (12 hours) session is full-on, with discussions, demonstrations, and shooting sessions with models.  Sunday is more demonstrations, more shooting and review of photos.  This is the third time we are offering this workshop at VPW, and the last time it sold out in one day, so sign up now.  For more info call 778.898.5256 or go here.

January 2011:  Editorial photography.  An exciting new course at Langara College aimed at anyone interested in learning about the editorial market, specifically magazines.  This course will cover portraiture, fashion, location lighting, self promotion, dealing with contracts, and much more.  Sign up with the Langara College Cont. Studies office (registration begins Nov. 17th):  604.323.5322 or for more info. go here.

Shot during an editorial workshop with a Nikon D3, a Profoto 7B and 6ft. Elinchrom octabank

Gear I use...Batteries

The single most important thing about any gear that I use is, it must be dependable.  It's gotta work when I need it.  A long time ago I realized that there is no savings in buying a cheaper piece of equipment if it won't get the job done.   Invariably, whenever I try to save some money, and buy something cheaper, it ends up costing me more.  Because, in the end the cheaper doohickey won't do the job, and I end up buying the more expensive one too.  I have learned that it is cheaper to buy the more expensive one right from the get go.  For the most part, more reliable gear is, more expensive gear, and sometimes a lot more.  But, not always.

When I am shooting with my speedlights, there is one thing I always use.  Batteries!  And lots of them.  For three good reasons I use rechargeable batteries.  The environment, economics, and most importantly-performance.  The first two are obvious, but the third not a given.  Rechargeable batteries only perform better if you buy the right ones.  Currently, I say that because battery technology changes quickly, the best choice for me are nickel metal-hydride batteries.  They work well in high discharge devices, like a flash.  I have used a few different brands, but until recently, I couldn't find any that were great.  Most performed fine when used immediately after being charged, but didn't hold a charge well if they sat around for anything more than a day or two.

Shot with a Nikon D3 & Speedlight through a 5 in 1 Photoflex reflector

More after the jump...

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The Right To Photograph

Violinist, Nancy Dinovo, cries while playing during a service at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Vancouver for the September 11 victims of terrorist attacks in the United States.

A lot of things changed on Sept. 11, 2001.  The world changed that day, and not for the better.  Many pundits, politicians, and others, much smarter than me, have talked about the reasons and effects of that day over 9 years ago.  However, one of the most lasting results, on me, has been that it has become increasingly difficult to take photographs in public places.  After 9/11 many government agencies around the world used the attacks from that awful day as an excuse to illegally ban photography.

In Canada, photography and freedom of the press are protected by The Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  It states specifically:

FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS.

Sec. 2.  Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

(a) freedom of conscience and religion;

(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and

(d) freedom of association.

These freedoms are deemed to be so important that they are titled Fundamental Freedoms and are the first ones outlined in the charter.  The laws, and rights of photographers, in the U.S.A. are outlined here.

More after the jump...

Personal Work

Being a photographer is hard.  At times, crushingly so.  But sometimes, it is rewarding beyond my wildest dreams.  Not financially, that's what the lottery's for.  What I'm talking about is personal.  Personal satisfaction.  The kind which comes from shooting pictures that mean something to me, and not worrying about what they are to anyone else.  Shooting on assignment is a juggling act.  First and foremost, this means providing my client with pictures that work for the story.  What goes into making those pictures is complex.  It involves a mixture of client needs, subject collaboration, and my creative vision.  The reason my clients hire me, is my ability to whip all those elements into the special sauce that makes great pictures.

Doing self assigned work is different.  It allows me to be exactly the photographer I want to be.  It is an opportunity to try something different, to take my work in a new direction.  To do work that I may not be assigned to do by a client.  The beautiful thing about it is, personal work leads to assignments.  It's a spectacular win-win situation.  Be the photographer you want to be, shoot the pictures you want to, and in the eyes of your clients, you become that photographer.  How cool is that.  It's like being a Jedi Knight, be the photographer you want to be.

My personal project on the weather observatory on the summit of Mount Washington, in New Hampshire. 

More here...

Which helped me to get this assignment, through my agency Redux Pictures, from Geo Magazine, on the voyageurs and the fur trade in Canada.

More here...

One of my most rewarding personal projects, led to one of favourite assignments.  I love it when a plan comes together.

Originality & Creativity

I'm sure I'm not alone in struggling with the idea of doing original and meaningful, work.  For a photographer, it is the holy grail.  However, sometimes I find myself so curious about a place, or idea, that despite it's being photographed before, and really what hasn't?  I want to explore it for myself.  The Salton Sea was that place, and it has been shot many times before.

It was every bit as strange as I had hoped, and then some.  But, I'm not sure my pictures added anything of value.  I guess going to the Salton Sea is a bit like shooting a story on boxing, it makes for some cool pictures, but nothing everyone hasn't seen before.  But is that essential?  Is it not O.K. to shoot pictures just because you want to?  Even if you know full well, they'll never change the world.

More photos here

Vancouver 2010...

The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games was one of the best experiences of my professional life.  18-20 hours a day for 18 days, and I loved every minute of it.  O.K. perhaps not the the part about getting to venues as much as 9 hours before an event to get the shooting position I wanted, but otherwise it was phenomenal.

What's not to love, shooting the world's best athletes surrounded by the world's best sports photographers.  The only thing better than the Vancouver Olympics?  It looks like I'm going to London for the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games.

More Olympic photos here

Abbotsford Photo Arts Club

I will be doing a two hour workshop on digital workflow at the Abbotsford Photo Arts Club seminar on Saturday, Oct. 16th at 9:15 AM.

Gear I use.

I use a lot of gear.  Cameras, lenses, cards, strobes, grip, computer, and countless other essentials.  However, one of the least glamorous, most important, but often neglected pieces of equipment, are, hard drives.  I use two different types of external drives, desktop (office) and portable (location/travel).  Recently I bought another portable HD for use while on location or the road.  Before I get into specifics, I want to talk about the idea behind buying HDs.  BACK-UP YOUR WORK!  Yes, that's right I'm shouting.  It amazes me how many photographers don't adequately back up their work.  There is absolutely no excuse not to.  It is easy, and inexpensive, relatively speaking, to back-up your information and pictures.  The downside to not doing it, is potentially, losing all of your digital files.  I use a combination of HDs and offsite server back-ups.

My primary method for back-ups are HDs.  I am using Photoshelter for some of my selects, but I haven't yet found an affordable option for large amounts of online storage.  The drive I recently bought is a Lacie 1 TB, Rugged drive.  You can buy them here.  They are designed to be shockproof, I don't advise testing it though.  When I travel I use 3 external HDs. two for storage of my photos, and one which is a bootable back-up of my MacBook Pro.  The final aspect of my travel back-up plan is to carry one HD with my photos in my carry-on lap-top bag, and the bootable back-up and other HD with photos in my checked baggage.  Now, before you label me a lunatic for putting HDs in the hands of the gorillas that are sometimes referred to as baggage handlers, hear me out.  I put the two checked HDs in a Pelican case which fits two portable HDs and cables perfectly.  These cases are damn near indestructible and it allows me another layer of redundancy and protection.  This way, if either of my bags gets delayed, lost or stolen, I will be still be in business.

This system is simple, reasonably inexpensive, and works for me.  If you have any thoughts or recommendations, drop a line in the comments.