It’s a new month and that brings a new wallpaper! The image this month is actually from a couple years ago around this time of year. This particular shot has always had a special place in my heart, with the combination of colors, motion and the anonymous factor with the child.
Shooting for a special project here at Qwanoes, I was able to go to some great locations around the Cowichan Valley.
News
There are websites popping up all over the place that have images from the new Mars lander, Phoenix. The official website for the mission has posted some great images that are very high resolution of the surface of Mars. Check it out HERE.
The Strobist website has come out with a new collection of their great video tutorials on DVD. The man who runs this website is probably one of the best minimalist lighting guys in the industry. Check it out HERE.
The recent Photoshop User magazine features a great article on “Creative Organization” in Lightroom. From folder structure, archiving and keywording, they talk about it all. Every month I look forward to the Lightroom feature in the magazine, such great stuff!
One of Lightroom greatest assets within Lightroom is its ability to create amazing web content within minutes. Not only are the basic templates that come with Lightroom amazing, but the array of third-party web galleries available now is incredible. One of my personal favorites is the Slideshow Pro gallery. At first glance it looks like a basic web gallery system. But under that deceptively easy hood is an extremely powerful and flexible system. I recently have been playing with it a lot lately trying to do some brainstorming on how to use it more and I think I have come up with some great ways to take full advantage of this great utility.
Jordan’s Tips on Slideshow Pro in Lightroom:
Here is a quick example of a gallery that I created with SSP in Lightroom. If you like this look and feature set, here is a link to the template: Slideshow Clean
So I just received back my prints that I ordered about a week ago from Mpix.com. All I can say is…Whoa! I took the advice of three different photog’s (Scott Kelby, David duChemin and Matt Brandon) and ordered the prints on Kodak metallic paper. What a perfect choice for these prints, I have never seen colors or objects pop like they do on this paper.
Recently I have been trying to decide whether I should start researching the option of getting a good photo printer. Adding up the costs of a printer, inks, papers, and time it takes to perfect a print , it seemed like it was going to be a lot of money to get a good print. I am so glad that I took the time to order these prints through Mpix, it has offered me a new option and a much cheaper option (for now).
If you are a skeptic like I was, just give em a try, but please try out the Kodak metallic paper, it gives the ultimate “whoa!” factor.
One thing that has always bugged me about Lightroom was the fact that it was possibly to customizable. Since Adobe has created this amazing ACR otherwise known as Adobe Camera Raw, it allows the users to tweak the look of a RAW image to perfection.
After doing a bit of searching, I was able to find great Canon 5D & Canon 30D camera calibrations. But these calibrations only affected the ACR, and when I edit in Lightroom I like to start with an image that looks very similar to what the basic RAW image looked. Thus I flatten the curve, take away any contrast and brightness.
What results from this type of “flat” image is the highlights looking very blown out. A simple solution, bump the recovery to +27 and all the highlights look natural again.
Here are the resulting images of what Lightroom (left) will do and what my calibration (right) looks like. You may look at the two and want the Lightroom calibration. But I would suggest you fight that urge, the left calibration is what it looks like on import. I have found that the preset import look will extremely limit your ability to edit your images to the way you interpret them. The right image will allow you to have more control over every aspect of the image since it’s starting you from the basic RAW image.
If you are interested in testing out my presets here are the links:
While this isn’t exactly completely photo related, I still feel this does have to do with an amazing camera that I can’t stop raving about. This particular video was taken from my office window sill with the G9 in time lapse video mode.
I have found so many amazing uses for this particular camera. Allowing me to use it to expand my creativity with a still frame photo. Now if only I could get my hands on some of the amazing G9 accessories like a grip, lens adapter and waterproof case.
© copyright 2007 Aaron JohnsonIf there was one comic that I haven’t stopped loving since the day I started reading it, it has to be What The Duck. This mans humor when it comes to the photography world is second to none!
Do you have a creative workspace that you can work from?
Here at Qwanoes I have been slowly creating an area that I call my own. An area that allows me to let my creative juices flow. This consists of posting up images on my wall, throwing up fun lights on the ceiling, real plants, specific music, etc.
Last year I realized one thing that every workspace should have, it is an element of your personality. This space should reflect what you are challenged by and what you are striving for; what frustrates and brings joy.
So I ask the question again, do you have a creative workspace that you can work from? or are you hoping to create one? I would love to see what your workspace looks like and consists of, drop a link in the comments! Let’s see if we can understand each other more by the workspace we have.
A rock on the beach of Vesuvius Bay, Salt Spring Island, shows the sign of being worn away by the tides.
News
The Photopreneur has written a great article on“What it takes to build a photography business” An excellent read into the world of pro photography.
My favorite magazine, National Geographic has a newer section of their website dedicated to the magazine. Within this part of the website is a “Your Shot” portion. In this section, Nat. Geo. allows its readers/users to upload images to share with the world and to have a chance to get published in the magazine! You can check out my portfolio on Your Shot: HERE
This next news article is more about what I will be doing with my time within the next 16 months. Camp Qwanoes has asked me to stay on another year with the Kaleo program to be the male intern once again. After a month of contemplating my options I have agreed to stay on for another year. What this means is more chances to photograph in very unique and dynamic environments and to pour into a new group of amazing young leaders.
I came across this article on “The Independent’s” website, an rare interview with the world renowned designer of Apple products, Jonathan Ive. This man has made such a huge impact on the design of technological products, even the philosophy behind the usability of the products, that he has won six black pencils from D&AD. A record in the design industry.
You can read the article HERE
Today was an adventurous day, combined with sleeping in till 10:30, lazying around in bed till 12:00 and then finally getting up to get some food. I know what you’re thinking, I am a modern day Indiana Jones! But wait, there is more to the story.
That afternoon a fellow camper staffer, otherwise known as Tyler Cassidy, went out on a photo adventure. It soon turned out to be a trip to Salt Spring Island, just across the channel from the camp. The island is known to many as the land of the hippie, basically because every house you see will have a sign out front that says, “Pottery for Sale”.
Since this was such an impromptu adventure we never had time to explore much of the island so we stuck to the ferry terminal for a couple of hours. The shore was filled with some amazing natural formations, beautiful flowers and great vistas.
Behind every image we shoot there is a story. Whether it be a terrible image or an amazing one. But the difference between a terrible image and an amazing one is how well the story is told.
A friend and fellow photographer David duChemin always states that we need to make sure we are telling the story within the frame of the image. And he’s right, an image says a thousand words and who’s going to look at an image that cannot read to good eh?.
Within this past week I have been thinking about this and putting this into practice. It is a difficult process to think through. How can you possibly tell the story within a 3×2 factor image? Well here’s an example:
Within the image itself, there can be many stories being told, many different interpretations. But, what I want to give you is a bit of a context to help with the impact of the image.
This particular shot was taken at Camp Qwanoes during our Family Retreat weekend. The girls parents are going through a divorce and it has been affecting her little body. Her Father told me that she hadn’t slept in basically two days, until now.
He gave a big sigh of relief as her Father told me about this struggle. I could see and sense the tension and the amount of exhaustion in his body. They needed this break, to get away and breathe.
This particular story is why we have Family Retreats, this is why we exist here at Camp Qwanoes. Capturing a bit of that story and combining it with our passion here at Qwanoes has truly made my week!
Ages ago I wrote an article for the O’Reilly Inside Aperture blog. Today is the day for its unveiling. If you would like to learn about the “Levels Adjustment” brick in Aperture, I have your beginners guide on how to use it.
Check it out, and leave a comment or two.
Tyler working hard at making sure the leaves on the Skatepark are gone…
News
A quick warning to anyone on Facebook: If you have images or are wanting to post images to Facebook, be aware that in their Terms of Service they say that they own any content uploaded. Thus allowing them to use your image, in such things as promo material.
The folks over at Freelance Switch have posted a great article about creating a better online portfolio. I usually check this website a couple times a week for their amazing articles on freelance work and philosophy.
I realize this isn’t so much photography related as it is World News related, but I have to add this in. I recently saw a link through Rob Galbraiths site to the NY Times website, which had a photo gallery of images from the quake that just rocked China. This set of images is absolutely incredible and heart breaking at the same time, a must see.
I’ve often found myself in a creative rut. For multiple different reasons, sometimes its lack of compelling content, sometimes its for lack of energy and sometimes its because I have to much on my mind to think of anything creative
If there was one place that I also seem to turn to for inspiration and to learn is National Geographic. I am a current subscriber of the magazine and a frequent viewer of the their website. While I was knee high to a grasshopper I used to spend hours reading my parents stack of Nat. Geo. in the basement, not reading the articles but admiring the images. Diving into the life that they captured, the stories and the emotion. Lately I have often found myself turning there once again, but this time it is with a different eye. An eye that sees these things in a bigger picture and imagines what the photographer thought through to simplify and capture the image he/she did.
National Geographic will always be a goldie oldie in my mind.
