The Difference Between Video and Photographs
I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, F Stop Beyond by Host Ron Dawson, and I heard a photographer talking about the difference between video and still images in a way that really caught my attention. The photographer asked, “How many times do you typically watch a movie?” The answer is usually ONCE. If you are really intrigued, you might watch a movie several times, but that would be more unusual than the standard answer of ONCE.
Now, when you look at an intriguing or exciting photograph, how many times might you look at that? 10, 20, 100 times perhaps. If it is a portrait of someone you love you may look at it every day of your life and appreciate it each time you see it. The photographer talked about how photography CREATES AN ENDURING MOMENT. Wow, an enduring moment. What an outstanding way to describe a photographer’s challenge. I’m not just “Capturing an image” or “capturing a moment in time” as many digital photographers describe what they do. As a photographer your goal is to create an enduring moment.
This reminds me of a photograph I took some years back. It was a picture of the finish of the last day of a trek across the state of Michigan on horseback. The riders started at a camp that touched lake Michigan then when they completed a week of 50 mile endurance rides across the state it ended at Lake Huron. The tradition at the finish was to go into the lake with your horse to celebrate the ride. It was great fun to watch as many of the horses had never encountered waves before. One rider’s helper during the week was a grandmother and she was encouraged to join into the fun by coming into the lake with horse and the rider. Two other people helped her to get out into the water (she was very unsteady in the light surf) where the rider was standing with her horse. When they got to the rider for only a moment, they all joined hands and raised there hands in celebration of the accomplishment. I captured that joyous moment in a spectacular photograph.
Several months later, I had an opportunity to watch video recaps of the week including this spectacular moment. Only it was not that spectacular in the streaming moments in video. That spectacular moment was there and gone and there were other moments to view. The power of the moment disappeared in video. It was a small blip and then it was gone. Now I know how to describe what I do with photography.
As a photographer I create ENDURING MOMENTS which can be enjoyed again and again and again by viewers. This is of course not a criticism of motion pictures or video, but it is a significant difference for sure.
Do you have an example of an ENDURING MOMENT; a photograph that can be appreciated over and over and over again?
Kentucky Diehard Endurance Ride at The Nature Preserve at Shaker Village
The weather was near perfect for the Kentucky Diehard Endurance Ride at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill & The Nature Preserve at Shaker Village just south of Lexington Kentucky. I stayed overnight in an old Shaker Village meeting house before the ride on Saturday November 21, 2009. My room was on the third floor up a very narrow staircase with a latch door and simple decor (except the bathroom which was modern). The room light was a lamp in the form of a candle stick and a dim electric candle light bulb.
This building was about 300 yards from the stable at Shaker Village where most of the riders had their trailers parked. Stalls and running water was available.
The well kept trails were beautiful with rolling hills and taking the riders right past the buildings of the main part of Shaker Village then out into the countryside through meadows and rolling hills. Many areas had beautiful stone fences along the trails. The brochure says there are 3000 acres of original Shaker countryside.
There were lots and lots of smiles throughout this well organized endurance ride. This is a don’t miss ride for 2010.
The gallery is here: Kentucky Diehards Endurance
Learn more about endurance riding: AERC
The gallery is here: Kentucky Diehards Endurance
Susan Sexton, internationally known equine photographer dies, but the wee horse project lives on
When I joined Equine Photographers Network 5 or 6 years ago I had lots and lots of questions. Susan Sexton was a regular participant there and willingly shared her knowledge with me from time to time. She was willing to give me a kick in the pants and challenged me to grow as a photographer and in the equine specialty as well. All my association with Susan was through that forum. In recent weeks I had noticed several posting of these “wee horse” project photos. I heard that Susan died this week, then I read Terri Miller’s blog posted about the project that a group of photographers, “sisters” of the Vision 18 Collective (a group of nationally and internationally known equine photographers and all friends of Susan) had embarked upon when they found out that Susan’s Leukemia was incurable. On Terri’s blog she explained what the wee horse project was and that the wee horse project will live on in Susan’s memory.
Here is Terri’s blog post about the wee horse project:
http://terrimiller.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/susan-sexton-the-wee-horse-project/
In the post she explains that this project was started as a way to entertain and bring a smile to Susan’s face as she became more ill. At the end of the post is a link to all the wee horse galleries which were continuously being emailed to Susan in her last months, weeks, and days. I have to say that this simple and creative project is a wonderful and creative expression of love, caring, and a testimony of friendship.
There are many more posts about Susan’s passing. If you want to learn more about her, I’m sure a quick google search will provide lots more information.
Photographer’s Styles
It’s interesting to look around at various photography books and magazines and see various styles of photography. It’s very common for newer photographers to try to copy other people’s style. Or, if there is a current trend lots of people hop on the band wagon to try to be popular.
For me, there are things I see that I like and there are things that I see that I don’t like. Skin that is so smoothed that it looks more like a ceramic doll than a human, I don’t like that. I think I am more of a purist. I like people to look comfortable and natural in their portraits. I like to smooth skin and enhance portraits, but I don’t like it to be noticed or take away from how the person really looks.
I’m not opposed to trying new things and stretching and learning though. But, after I try something I consider how comfortable I am with the new look and I keep what I like and leave some parts behind. Learning to take portraits at an angle is difficult for me because there are so many times when being off on the vertical lines is just a mistake that must be corrected. But, I like it an some time it will become more a part of my style.
As you look at my work, how would you describe the style. It’s not glamour although many people I photograph feel like a model as I shoot. I would not call my work “edgy”. I think causual and comfortable or maybe natural might better describe my style. Perhaps connected and relaxed could describe it. I don’t think because it is not “edgy” that it is boring, but I don’t want to use boring words to describe it either. I need your help. Captivating, penetrating, fun, what?
I’d like your input on how to describe my style. What are the right words to use if I were to add a paragraph on my home page about the style of my work. Please add your comment below and give me your ideas. Much appreciated.
HELP PORTRAIT initiated by Nashville-based photographer Jeremy Cowart
I was reading my recent issue of Professional Photographer magazine and on the last page they have a new thing called “good works” where they tell about photographers that are giving back to those in need. The reason that I am posting this here is to pass along the idea to my many photographer friends who may read this blog. I was able to look up Dayton and there are about 4-5 people discussing ideas for Dayton already. I joined that group and I will see if I can participate in what they are planning. If not, my wife Patty suggested that she could find some people pretty easily through her connections as a teacher.
Here is the concept quoted from the first paragraph of the last page of Professional Photography Magazine Nov. 2009:
“Help Portrait has a simple premise–just connect. On December 12, photographers will grab their cameras, photograph people who cannot afford a portrait session, print the images, and deliver the prints to the subjects free of charge. That’s it. Pick a population. Take pictures. Give away the images.”
Here are a couple of links to the Help Portraits web site and some example videos that I found inspiring. This is not about making an event to promote any one photographer and it is not limited to professional photographers. Anyone who enjoys photography can participate in the project. In fact in the one video they show make-up artists and others helping in the project. Watch the videos and consider if you would like to participate.
http://help-portrait.com/#/about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3BFwgf1f2I&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9tu1XrBn3A
It’s easy to join the NING website to begin to connect with others in your area that are interested in this project. I was able to search for Dayton and found this discussion group already going.
http://community.help-portrait.com/group/daytonoh
Update: The group for Dayton is also now a GROUP on Facebook. If you want to help in any way visit the group page here:
Help-Portrait Dayton on Facebook
Daniel Goffe Senior Portrait Session
I know Daniel’s mom and dad from church. Daniel and his mom and dad are all very active at Fairhaven Church. One time I saw one of his Facebook updates and I sent him a friend request. I was impressed that Daniel was informed about politics and did not have his head in the sand as many do. His mom Sueann called and we set a time for some fall portraits, however about that time Daniel got the Flu so we had to postpone things for a week. That was after the windy weekend that brought most of the leaves out of the trees. Furturnately there were some trees at Cox Aboretum in Centerville that still had some color.
For the photographers among my readers here, I shoot with a Canon 1D Mark IIn digital camera using a 70-200mm f 2.8 lens. My wife Patty helps me with a large silver reflector to bring some extra light to my subject so that I can create the portraits mainly in the shade. Portraits are bets in open shade because the light is even and the variations in brightness are all within the digital camera’s range of sensitivity. In bright noonday sun you will bet burned out areas and harsh dark shadows in the eye sockets. In the summer I shoot just when the sun is going down. Now in the fall that is much earlier so most of my sessions will now have to happen on weekends. I shoot RAW format (not JPG) which requires processing of the images in photoshop. I also shoot a gray card a couple of times throughout the session for color calibration when processing. The card I use gives me good whites and nice warm skin tones. If you like my photographic style and you have questions about photography, I am certainly open to sharing my thoughts with you. I would also encourage photographers in SW Ohio to join PPSO (Professional Photographers of Southwest Ohio). We meet monthly and have outstanding speakers and trainers come each month. Not only that, but I get to talk with other professionals who are also open and willing to discuss what they know with me. You can’t beat that.
Back to Daniels session. Here are a couple of highlights from the session. At the bottom of this post I have a link to the rest of the portraits we created.
Here is the gallery of images, just click on this link DANIEL
I’ll be sharing some environmental pet portraits soon. If you would like some portraits of your pet at your home or some other special location, don’t hesitate to give me a call so we can discuss your ideas.
Session books can be special keepsakes for seniors and others
I spent the evening preparing a book to be sent off for printing. It has a hard cover with a portrait wrapped onto the front cover. Inside there can be 20-40 pages of pictures from the session.
My first sample book is of my client Jennifer Truett and her horse Lydia that she lost earlier this year. On Facebook she had posted about her prize show horse and companion and that she may have to put her down due to a severe founder from getting sick. She would know within the next two weeks if the horse could survive or not. I had gotten to know Jennifer while taken pictures at a couple of horse shows at the Dancing Horse Farm which her and her husband, Lenny, own and operate in Lebanon.
I called by phone her the next day and said that I wanted to come out that weekend to do a portrait session (No charge for this one as I wanting to give her the session). Weeks earlier we had done a session under saddle and conformation with some other horses. We were supposed to do portraits of Lydia at that same time only she was at the equine hospital at the time and very ill. It was the aftermath of that illness that caused the severe founder. So I called her and we selected a time and I explained that we could do the session in their soft grass. It would be portraits of Jen with Lydia and anything else she wanted to do.
When I arrived Jennifer told me how difficult this might be as she was not sure she could keep her composure. Jen had to wipe away tears several times during the session and Patty (my wife assisting) and I also got choked up. At one point Jennifer, she told me later, said that she had almost called to cancel the session because she was so upset, but we proceeded and had a very lovely session not knowing if the news in the following weeks would be good or bad. Lydia’s last day was only a week away as it turned out.
Jennifer, Lenny and Lydia photo session (click here)
I sent a link to the proofs within a day or so. Many tears later. This was still before Jennifer found out there was no hope and Lydia had to be put down.
Jennifer made a long post on facebook about that last day explaining that it was the most difficult thing she had ever done in her entire life. Jennifer made it a very special day for Lydia with a bath, flowers braided into Lydia’s mane and other special moments photographing the entire process. They had many special moments together before walking to where Lydia would be put down at the remoted farm graveyard down a tree lined path.
This is the cover and back cover. On each page within the book I placed a word to try describe her horse and her relationship with her horse. Beauty, Affection, Memories, Honor, Grace, Laughter, Passion, Pride, Partnership, Whimsy and others.
Jen brought her horse out very carefully and slowly. She was so sweet with Lydia and it was very touching to watch and photograph.
I sent the computer files showing the insides of the book and this cover to Jennifer to review and so that she could request to perhaps add some additional pages with additional words. Then I will send it to the book company so that can put it together and print it and ship it back to me. I will finalize pricing for this type of book once I see the finished product. This particular book is 13″x 11″ so it will be rather spectacular in my estimation.
(Update) Jennifer loved the pages of the book and we decided that we would be adding some photographs from shows in the book along with the narrative and pictures from Lydia’s last day on this earth. In addition we will be adding many letters of condolence which poured in after Jennifer made the facebook post about Lydia’s last day.
They are available in 7″ x 7″ , 8″ x 10″, 10″ x 8″, 13″x 11″ and 12″ x 12″.
Tell me what you think.