Archive for September, 2012

There is ALOT to consider when you are trying to get the right lighting. I didn’t really grasp that until I got in the studio and started trying to take photos. There are angles, different equipment,and power of light to think about when doing a photoshoot. Not to mention all the different settings on your camera that can change a shot drastically. Being new to photography, this was extremely challenging for me especially regarding things like shutter speed, ISO, and the aperture. I also had trouble with my photos not coming out very clear and that was frustrating as well. In the end I think I ended up with some really awesome shots that I am proud of. This was a good first project because it taught me alot about lighting and equipment that I didn’t know before.

I took photos of my roommate who happens to be African American so I thought it would be cool to do my spreads inspired by Ebony. I particularly enjoy Beyonce’s Cover because I like the light quality and the sans serif font. After looking at different Ebony covers I discovered that Ebony doesn’t not use a consistent Font or color palette.  I also like that Ebony doesn’t use the same style of photos for each months issue which allowed me to take pictures and then select the ones I thought best captured Kalleadria’s personality. I enjoyed editing the photos and putting the spreads together and then being able to show Kalli the different spreads I produced.

I met Bill Frakes while attending a workshop in Wyoming. Besides being a neat person, he is a well seasoned photographer, extremely talented, and humble guy. I had a great time with him, and learned a lot by just listening and watching him work.

From Bill’s website:

“Bill Frakes is a Sports Illustrated Staff Photographer based in Florida who has worked in more than 125 countries for a wide variety of editorial and advertising clients.

His advertising clients include Apple, Nike, Manfrotto, CocaCola, Champion, Isleworth, Stryker, IBM, Nikon, Canon, Kodak, and Reebok. He directs music videos and television ads.

Editorially his work has appeared in virtually every major general interest publication in the world. His still photographs and short documentary films have been featured on hundreds of Web sites as well as on most major television networks.

He won the coveted Newspaper Photographer of the Year award in the prestigious Pictures of the Year competition. He was a member of the Miami Herald staff that won the Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of Hurricane Andrew. He was awarded the Gold Medal by World Press Photo. He has also been honored by the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards for reporting on the disadvantaged and by the Overseas Press club for distinguished foreign reporting. He has received hundreds of national and international awards for his work.”

http://www.billfrakes.com/

Annie Leibovitz
One of my favorite photographers of all, for her versatile, daring and crafty style. I was able to see her exhibition: A Photographer’s Life, and many of her original prints in Paris last year.

Follow this link for the American Music series.

Joe McNally photography — enough said.

Dan Winters is one of my favorite commercial photographers. I had a chance to meet him while attending a workshop in Hunt, TX a few years ago. Really a great guy, and an excellent eye for “light composition.” He is now based in Austin.

Howard Schatz: an ophthalmologist who after a successful academic life as a retina specialist, turns his hobby into a very prominent career. One of my favorite commercial photographers these days. Very creative and always pushing his imagination beyond the expected.

Photoshoot: take a series of portrait images of your friend with ONE main light, and a reflector.