Famous Photographer #2

Annie Leibovitz

She is mostly known for her portraits but she does has has done photojournalism as you can see by the bike. She has gone to war torn areas and followed well known people such as Hillary Clinton. She has done more than just portraits and photojournalism. 

Rolling Stones was her first big job when they were starting out. Her BF at the time was the one who pushed her to go and be one of their first photographers. She stayed with them for a while and to this day she still shoots for big companies. 

When digital cameras first came out she did not really adapt to it. She still shot film because of the fact that things could still happen with files. But she did like how the upgrades were for the technical side of things. But today she does mostly shoot digital photography.

She is very creative with her portraits and telling the persons story in a single frame as you can see on the side. There are many famous portraits done by Annie that tell the persons story and or character. 

When She was shooting for magazines she would have a full page spread, so as she was taking photos she thought about the center fold and not to have her subjects right in the middle.

How Annie and I are similar is that we pretty much are not with out our cameras. Photography helped her get out in the world and talk to people. ( Photography has 100% gotten me out of being shy and staying inside). The saying "it does not matter what gear or tools you have its how you use them" is something she and I can agree with. Learning how to use is better than buying new tools. She was also very big into BW in her early work.( as you know I am a big fan of BW) We both like the candid moment more than a posed moment.

"It didn't matter the subject was. What mattered was photography."

" The camera gave you a license to go out alone into the world with a purpose"

"The camera makes you forget you're there. It's not like you are hiding but you forget, you are just looking so much."

“One doesn’t stop seeing. One doesn’t stop framing. It doesn’t turn off and turn on. It’s on all the time.”

If you want to learn more about her. Here is her book and a documentary

A quick fun fact I almost met her in Hudson this year missed her by a few mins.

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Color Run 2017

I was personally asked to be a volunteer camera man at the first ever Chatham Color Run. I said yes and got the map of the run and a little about what was going to happen a few nights before the day of the race. I have never been to a color run but have seen many of photos and videos of what the event is. I was thinking about all the cool shots with the chalk I would be getting and the throw at the end. I do like to volunteer my time, thinking about what this could turn into and also network and build portfolio. My favorite fun raiser of the year is coming up and I will definitly be doing a blog post about it for sure. 

Why #4

What photographer inspires you?

I cant think of a single photographer that has inspired me because of the fact theres so many very good photographers out there dead or alive. There are photographer I like and look to for ideas thats why, I have a photo book collection that is growing. I like to look and study other photographers and learn what they did and get ideas from that. but I could not say "this photographer is my inspiration". 

What is the difference between taking a photo and taking a photograph?

To me a photo or picture and a snap shot can be put into 1 meaning which is that everyone takes a photo or picture or a snapchat but a person who understands how to use a camera and uses composition and artistic words like it, can make a photograph. On my Facebook and Instagram feed I have seen some great photos taken by friends. 

Have you had that photo or moment where you were like, "this is why I love photography"?

The simple answer is yes. I have had moments and photos where I am like wow look at that shot, on the back of the screen and when in post production. Like an example would be the lighting and firework shot. I was watching the lighting and photographing it and then out of the corner of my eye "look there fireworks" and then the shot came. So there are moments like that.

First Senior

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This was my first senior session in a long time. We talked back and forth for a while about a good time and place to do the session and how everything is done. We planed to go to Art OMI around 6, where the sun was not yet setting. This time of day gives the photos more drama and mood to the photo and I can use my flash to isolate the model. It was a little chilly but well worth it because it was hot the previous day when we first planed. They found me from going on Instagram and looking around. ( first session off Instagram) This senior was also from another school that I have not photographed before.   Hike Blog Post

Famous Photographer #1

Ansel Adams

I recently studied Ansel Adams, one of the most famous photographers that comes to mind when thinking of photography. Ansel grew up mostly playing piano till his parents gave him a camera on a trip they took where he found his calling for photography. The piano was still a part of his life. 

Ansel had mentors in his life that helped him grow to who we know him as. That helped him get shows. An interesting fact is he shot for over 5 years (about how long I have been doing photography now) before he ever even had a show and he did not make money from it. ( I have had a few shows and been paid to take photos for people).

I can relate to him because of the fact that we were not good at school and how we learn. Adams was taken out of school, while I got extra help when in school. He liked to try thing new things with photography and I do as well but with the more technology side of things. He liked finding and going to cool places and getting shots that the every day person would not see or go. 

Ansel Adams used a camera called a medium and large format which at that time was a very big and heavy camera because he had his tripod the plates and filters and also other things he had to cary up to all his locations. 

He was a big into the dark room as well. ( I have not done film but at some point i would like to and develop it as well.) One of the funny dark room things he did was after he made a print and wanted to make sure it looked right he put it in the microwave to make it dry faster.

As the years went on and he could no longer go to crazy places, he did workshops and taught photography. He taught sometimes without a camera just a paper with a frame cut out. 

If your interested in learning more about him heres his book and a documentary

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