September 15, 2012


Summer is ending and school is beginning.  We can already feel the change in the morning up hear in the Great Northwest. Some fun summer photos to keep us going as winter comes steamrolling along.

August 26, 2012

Barriers to Success In Photography

Have any of these words interfered with your ability to get that perfect image, nerves, hectic, fast changing light, lens choice, perspective, anxiety, tension is mounting, I must get this shot, mind racing, and more.  If we over think a photograph we have already lost the natural flow of the scene and your relationship with the subject.  Your imposing on the scene your inner desire for the absolute best composition, the best color, the best of everything and by doing this you are limiting your ability to intuitively recognize the good photograph wanting to be taken right in front of you. As a matter of fact I think if you are overly concerned with the technical side of image taking you have already missed the shot.  I am not saying don't be prepared.  With experience we all have an artist's ability to previsualize an image.  I have a lens rotation I do when taking photographs.  I start wide and keep narrowing my focus until I have found a close-up macro shot.

I bring this up because the other day I went back to one of my favorite small lakes up in Snohomish County, Lake Cassidy.  The lake sits in a valley and usually has fog hugging its calm surface.  Fishermen will come in and launch their small engine boats (sometimes canoes, kayaks and fishing inter-tubes) on the west side of the lake right as the sun rises over the Cascade Mountain Range. It is a wonderful landscape and has all the ingredients for making a great picture.

I hadn't been there in awhile and as the light got better and better I heard a boat in the distance heading my way.  I had a 50mm lens on my camera and had a great composition with Mount Pilchuck to the right in the frame and the sun coming up through the fog on the left side of the frame and a boat in the distance coming perfectly into the composition.  But instead of thinking calmly I got excited about a potential new image and in mid-stream decided to change lens to a 105 mm.  As I put the lens on the camera I looked up and saw the small boat come out of the fog and right through the frame before I could re-compose my image and get the shot.  My nervous energy sabotaged what could have been a great scenic photograph.

I did go back to the lake the next morning and this time waited patiently as the fishermen entered my composition.  The light was great and I will post some of those when I get them processed through Lightroom.  The images below are from previous morning shoots.

August 19, 2012

Remember When?

I was on an assignment to shoot community guides for a national phone company.  And as it often happens when you are out and about looking for subjects, serendipity played a role.  I stumbled into a kids ballet class at one of the grade schools I was photographing.  This was perfect, a great teacher and the kids enthusiasm and me the loud photographer shooting with  MD-12 motor drives which sounded like a sledge hammer going off in your head.  I know what you're thinking, just take the motor drives off and then do a Henri Cartier-Bresson. Compose the frame allowing all the forms to line up perfectly and click the shutter for that decisive moment.  Very nice and tidy.  Oh no, not this cowboy.  I had in my mind's eye a young prodigy flying in midair and the audience clapping at the way the photographer captured with perfection the youthful ballerina's expression.  Or something like that.  So no, I didn't take the motor drives off and as I look back at that day I still remember the parent's (who were paying good hard earned money for these classes) distasteful looks at me as my motor drive (which felt hot in my hands) distracted not only the kids, but the teacher as well.  For me however, I didn't bat an eye, and it was only later as I was leaving that I realized that the loudest clap was not for the kids, but for me leaving. 

August 19, 2012

Do negative images sell?  I discussed this a few weeks ago and wanted to post some images that I have been working on that relate to this topic.  I have been shooting a series of images that focus on the the overabundance of pills in our lives. I know that when my folks got to a certain age they had an increase in the amount of medicines they took.  Some were necessary, some were not given their age and side effects.  The conceptual images I took for this series really focused on the addictive quality of the medicines that people use nowadays.  Whether it is for pain, anxiety, sleeping, sex, high blood pressure, etc...We are addicted to meds and the ads claim that by taking these pills your life will be better.  But when they list the the side effects of the medications you have to wonder what the heck is going on.

Will these images sell.  I think they will.  We are beginning to see more articles discussing the over medication of our children and our senior citizens. When creating images you have to go with your gut instincts and shoot what you feel.  Sometimes in photography subjects hit you over the head that you just can't ignore.

July 18, 2012

We had a stray cat come into our yard after the 4th of July.  With all the fireworks going on it is amazing more pets don't run away.  We found out about the stray cat when our dog tore out of the house, down the back steps, howling like a banshee and abruptly stopped and began barking.  Our Jack Russell had corned the stray but this cat wasn't going to take anything from this little yapper and to put an exclamation point on it scratched our dogs nose and Jumping Jupiter backed off immediately until his reinforcements came.  As we separated the two animals the cat slowly and methodically moved under our back deck.  He then backed himself up against the wall and peered out daring anyone to try and move him.  Our daughter sat and talked with the cat as we went around the neighborhood to see if anyone was missing a pet.  Sure enough it was one of our neighbors a few doors down and our stray was reunited with his family.  

July 7, 2012

Before dawn there is a quiet movement of nature.  A slow waking to a new day.   In this quiet place your interior dialogue can distract you from this moment. The key is to calm this reflection to a little ripple that moves outward from your interior to an exterior subject and transforms the landscape into an image worth taking. You submerge yourself in the environment and see more deeply the things around you. Potential images are everywhere the trick is to really see them.  You cannot do this with an active, jealous mind.

July 2, 2012


Safe and Happy 4th of July.  Up here in Marysville people take their fireworks very seriously, so we have hoses at the ready both in the front yard and in the back yard. Of course we add our 2 cents as well.

The clean up from last year!

June 23, 2012


Negative Images vs Positive Images

I do think positive images sell better than negative images.  Who wants to be beaten over the head time and time again with all the crap that goes on in this world.  News now is a police blotter.  But there is a place for images that tell the other side of life's march forward.  I tend to want to shoot negatively.  It fits my personality better.  I see the world through life's hardships and want to express that through concepts that explore our consumer/money oriented society. We are seeing a change in ads and in movies that explore the anxiety and advertising manipulations of our desires. As Pink Floyd lyric states, "Money is the Root of all Evil today".

But you can get caught up in this negative image trip and lose sight of the humor and the wonder in this world.  So I do try and balance my shooting with beauty and also with the real issues facing us.

Animals and kids are always a favorite for advertisers.  And especially humor.  These images can be used in multiple ways that connect with the consumers own experiences.

June 17, 2012


Editing what a hassle


Editing your images is one of those necessary duties that if done consistently can improve your work flow and lead to stronger sales because your images will get to the clients sooner rather than later.  I am always editing.  I normally don't let my memory cards stack up on my work desk but last weekend I finished up a series of images I am doing on the Medical Industrial Complex that has made our society a pill popping freak show.  I will discuss the concept and images in a later blog.  But it took a good 4 hours of uploading to complete my mission.  The problem was the variety of subjects on some of the cards.

In the past when we were shooting transparencies and negative film, once the shoot was over, you had a little down time to relax as you dropped your film off at the Photo Lab for processing.  Having worked at Photo Labs in the Seattle area (ProLab and Jet Color Lab) there was always a tense anticipation waiting for your film to be developed.  You would go over in your mind the details of the shoot and make notes on exposure and what you thought were your strongest images and what possible you should have done better.

There is no down time with digital.  Once your done shooting you must get in the habit of uploading your digital files (doesn't that sound so clinical, not like the old days where you opened the Kodak box with Christmas anticipation) and begin the editing process.

One of the first things I do before I even think about keywording and captioning my images is to attach to those digital files my Copyright, contact information and other restrictions I want for those images.


I always do a quick image look through and delete the obvious mistakes.  I tend to shoot alot of images depending on the subject.  And this can get frustration to see alot of similars but I have to man-up and go through them and check focus and composition and delete the ones that don't work.  Time is the one thing that can get eaten up in this new digital age and you just have to accept that and run through the editing process or should I say crawl through the editing process.  Once the images are flagged as the best I will then crop, color correct, add alittle sharpness and finally caption and keyword the digital images.

I back up everything by using two external hard-drives, the Lacie 500GB d2 quadra's.

The payoff when shooting analog was that moment when you put the first slide up to the light and saw your work revealed.  The same can be true with digital only the payoff now is when you see your images selling to clients and are displayed in print or on their websites.

June 9, 2012


Infinite Choices

When I start thinking about my next concept shoot I write down alot of ideas, and script as much of the shoot before I even bring out the cameras.  Some of my ideas cost to much and that is a problem I have stated before, that a photographer's imagination is sometimes too expensive for his/her own good.  I usually start gearing up for the shoot a week in advance and have the props I want in place and kind of have a general pre-planned idea of what I will shoot.  But rarely do I end up following it exactly.  It morphs and changes as I explore the subject and begin to see better angles, light, composition, details etc... that say more than just what is there but what isn't. Yes, these new images are related to the original script but seem more appropriate now that I am fully engaged with the subject and open to serendipity and begin to let loose the reins of my ego that wants to control my actions in a safe, foreseeable image outcome.

I had an idea years ago of shooting an out of control office at tax time. The business wasn't organized and had become overwhelmed by documenting their business expenses.

But as I began shooting the original concept I started thinking and adjusting my original idea and slowly started experimenting with the details of an office.

 This lead to images of a business or person overspending using a credit card.

Which lead to a cutting back of their use of credit cards                                                 

To a business where their client information has been stolen 

I could go on but I think you get the idea.  Be open to all the twists and turns that happen when your choosing from those infinite choices.

Niche or not to Niche

June 03, 2012

It seems that having a photo niche is the way to go in this fast paced billion image upload days on the worldwide web.  By having an in depth coverage of a specific subject means your images will be unique and have selling potential from those clients that need that particular subject matter.  But is any subject nowadays buffered from competition.  I think not. Any subject you have will be challenged by photographers from all over the world that will have similar interests and photo skills.

Having a niche also depends on what are your ultimate goal in photography is.  Do you want to be a commercial, editorial, portrait, fine art, nature photographer etc... I am not saying finding a niche is a bad thing what I am saying is that jumping in to early and focusing on a narrow subject matter can bore you out of photography all together.  Each photographers personality is different with unique gifts and energy levels that focus their attention.  Shooting a narrow subject range increases your chance of burn out and loss of inspiration to create better photos.

I think as you start out in photography you need to shoot imagery that obviously interest you and fits your personality.  And as you grow as a photographer you will try new techniques and lighting which will stimulate your confidence to shoot more daring subjects and concepts.  Gaining valuable experience through trial and error gives you a grounded work ethic that keeps you looking more and more for those unique moments when your subject is revealed and you capture that special moment.  No matter what area of photography you choose to stake your future in, you will have an infinite amount of choices to make concerning subject matter.  So in one way, even if you choose a narrow niche to focus on, you will always be discovering new ways to shoot old subjects and this will keep your interests alive.

A career in photography can take many twists and turns and if you focus to early on just one field of photography you could burn out before your career even begins.  Besides, shooting many subjects early is fun and inspiring and in exploring new subjects you just might find that one that interest you above all others and gives you the motivation to make it your life's work.

Eventually you will find your purpose but their is nothing wrong with being a generalist and shooting alot of interesting subjects in the beginning.  If you are bored with your images they will not inspire your clients.  You will be in a rut and your images will suffer.  To keep your enthusiasm level up you have to shoot subjects that keep your creative juices flowing.

May 26, 2012


Telling someone what to shoot already limits the growth in that particular relationship.  As Stock Photographers we get Want Lists/Briefs all the time from the big Photo Agencies.  These briefs give the photographer an idea of what to shoot and more importantly how to shoot it.  They will suggest natural authentic people doing active things in a hip lifestyle way.  By following their lead you have reduced your ability to be original and express a unique image.   You have to be in a position of power in order to create your best imagery.  When I was starting out I too would try and follow the editors lead and shoot what they wanted but over time I found that just letting go and coming up with your own ideas was a better way to go and much more rewarding.  I have had some hit and misses over the years but at least I know they were my hits and my misses. You can follow trends and be dependent on your editor coming up with photo ideas for you but what you are actually doing is following the herd mentality.  By the time an editor is suggesting an image to shoot the uniqueness is already gone and hundreds if not thousands of photographers will be shooting that idea.

Experience leads to less dependence on the so called rules of stock.  That is, work closely with your editor and let him drive the concept and art direct your shoot.  With experience you tend to do your own research, have your own ideas fermenting in your active brain and you shoot images that go with your priorities and values.  Experience will let you look at the facts of a shoot and plot a course of action that suits your inner landscape and not someone else's.

I find with this new freedom to shoot anything and everything, to immerse yourself in the infinite possibilities,  allows your ideas to germinate and come to fruition.  As you experiment with subject, composition, exposure and perspective etc.. you begin to see an image form and then you can narrow your idea down.  This creative process becomes your bread and butter for original works and not a cookie cutter assembly line reproduction of someone else's ideas.

May 26, 2012


Memorial Day is coming up again on Monday the 28th.  A time to reflect on the sacrifices our military men and women and their families make each and every day.

May 5, 2012

Opening Day of Boating in the Northwest

Opening Day of Boating along the Montlake Cut in Seattle is how should I say this, crazy fun. The boats that will watch the parade begin lining up along Union Bay days before the event, where on the opening day morning, these boaters look like a gauntlet of partying yahoos as the decorated boats come down the Montlake cut. The size of your boat doesn't matter,  big and small coexist in perfect harmony enjoying the morning festivities as they party hardy through the late morning.  Along with the boats you have the crew races, where the UW usually dominates in the Windermere Cup.

I get there early before sunrise so I can get a good parking site and an easy exit to the freeway.