Shots and Thoughts

Photos and comments as I explore my passion for photography. Written to and for myself as a journal to track major moments and minor observations as I continue to evolve my visual art.

Photos of Photos

I always love to take photos of other great photos. This was shot at the Ginza Leica store, pro desk upstairs. Don't know the name of the photographer.

Pro tip: I love seeing other commercial work, the range of creativity also gets me excited for my own style.

32,000 Feet

Now on United at 32,000 feet and still connected. Good thing or bad thing, probably both!

Pro tip: At least I can stay up on email and football scores! No video streaming, but overall not bad performance.

Packing

Packing up the gear for another trip to my favorite place, Japan. A few days in Tokyo then on to Kyoto. My goal/dream is to get a night time snow shot with the flash. And of course visit my friends at Kyoto Leica in Gion.

Pro tip: I think all photographers are seeking the perfect camera bag, it is a lifetime search as equipment and missions change. I am trying a new setup and if it works will do a bag post.

Printing

I just finished printing some family shots for a good friend in Kyoto. It is said that an image does not become a photograph until it is printed. Probably true for both the technical and emotional aspects of the shot. The displayed print is a reminder of the past and makes us think about the future.

Pro tip: My Epson P800 printer does a great job on these 5x7 shots. I should print and deliver more often. I am not up to it yet but a cool goal would be to deliver a print every day....

Wardrobe

Picking the right wardrobe for your head shot is key. Simple, clean always looks good. Colors that work together, black and white are also usually fine. With a grey backdrop, blue can also be a winner. Robin pulls this off perfectly.

Pro tip: Bring several tops and looks for best results. Clean, classic lines and colors that are timeless. Minimum jewelry worked well for Robin. She was a delight to shoot.

Studio Set Up

A few quick shots from Marysol showing how we shoot in the San Jose Japantown Studios.

Pro tip: We should keep making these BTS shots, all fun. And maybe a short video...:)

Teaching High School Photo Class

I had a chance to teach three photography classes this week at San Mateo High School. It was a lot of fun and the kids had interesting questions. The school had just purchased new strobe lights so we dialed them in and had fun taking portraits.

Pro tip: It is always fun to teach as inevitably I learn along the way. This time I was reminded how tough it is to be a high school teacher. Fun for me for a day but much respect for all the full time teachers out there!

Three Shots

Christine came over to the San Jose Japantown Studios last week for updated head shots to use in her marketing materials and social media. She has a thriving consulting practice and a delight to work with.

Most clients are not professional models and have some level of mouth tension. My goal is to get them to relax and show up in front of the camera confident and approachable. These three shots are all fine but you can tell the last one really sparkles as she relaxes.

Pro tip: I like to schedule head shots sessions for 90 minutes so we can get to the point of relaxation of the face. Often done in an hour and need to watch closely so fatigue does not set in.

Japantown Studio is Busy to Start 2016

A busy start to 2016 at the Japantown Studio in San Jose, CA. Fully booked for executive head shots sessions and some new creative projects.

Marysol assisted in the studio today and was most helpful with the clients. It was a full day but we got it done with little drama and had some fun along the way.

Pro tip: Setting the studio tone is key to getting the clients into a happy place quickly. Most people are not professional models so getting them to relax in front of the camera requires a light touch. Marysol's presence and attitude worked well for these female executives.

Guest Blog Post

I had fun writing a guest blog post for my friend Dave Powell over at ShootTokyo.com

I won't duplicate it here but feel free to go check it out as I discuss from moving from snapshots to projects, from Postcards to Poems.

Pro tip: It was fun to look back on my growth as a photographer and be able to put into words how I approach my black and white photography. Fun to write and fun to think about other writing ideas!

Good Bye, Hello.

2015 wraps up and 2016 arrives. As time goes by in the blink of an eye, I am finding people also pass in the blink of an eye.

But new people, new relationships arrive in a blink of an eye. For 2016 I hope to cultivate my existing and new creative relationships for mutual enjoyment and growth.

Pro tip: Relationships do not start or maintain with out energy and commitment. This is a quality not quantity game.

Gesture and Emotions

Shooting with emotion can lead to emotional shots. Adding in gesture makes it all come together.

Can you tell all the above subjects have a special emotional connection? I think it jumps off the page.

Pro tip: Once again I have some of the kids direct and position the shots, a lot of fun and worked on every level. Keep doing this.

Community

One of the things I love about photography is the community you can enjoy. Inside of the community are relationships and one that I really value is with Faran Najafi. He has mentored me over the years including studio set ups, lighting ideas, Lightroom workflows, creative layouts, etc. It is nice to have relationships where you are free to discuss your creative and technical ideas together.

Today we hung out and went through photo selection, sequencing and some camera body discussions as there is a new Phase One body out that seems significantly improved.

Pro tip: It feels good to have long term creative friendships. I learn but also share so they become special for both of us.

Get That First Shot Done

For me it is important to start off the day with a quick shot, it seems to set me into photo mode and gets my mind looking for the light and gesture.

Pro tip: In focus, nope. Good shot, nope. Did I see that light and subject and then compose? Yup. Then quickly tweak the shutter speed for the next set of shots. And I am off shooting for the day.

Yodobashi Camera

I have mentioned Yodobashi Camera before in these notes, but it is always a treat to spend a few hours (!) walking through the largest camera store in have ever seen. Yes bigger than B&H in NYC!

Hundreds of camera bags. Kind of like shoe shopping for guys (ha!).

And row after row of paper for photo prints. I stick with Epson paper although Fuji has super color.

Kodak! Remember when they were the undisputed leader in photography?

I just love that there are always a lot of printing kiosks where you can insert you SD card and print on the spot. I think it says something about the Japanese style where they love real books, film, prints, etc.

My friendly Yodobashi sales clerk. In general they can check you out faster than you put your credit card in your wallet.

Pro tip: I like seeing all the technology camera platforms and love that I can feel and touch them. Yodobashi is also great for specialized accessories, including Art and Artisan camera straps (made in Japan). Have a shopping list in mind before you go!

Light and Composure

I found the light, then waited for the shot to come together. The bird was a great extra that made the entire shot!

Pro tip: Wait, then wait some more if the light is perfect.

Photography in Japan

One of the reasons I love coming to Japan is that there is a long history and passion around photography.

Never a surprise to see a camera in Japan. The love of photography extends to printings and photo galleries.

Pro tip: It is fun to connect with people via the camera around their neck, maybe a universal language we all share.

Emotions Make Good Photos Great

A fun party in Tokyo this weekend, got to see a lot of friends and families. It is interesting to look back at the photos and see where there is an emotional connection with the subjects and where there wasn't as much.

Yes to emotional connection in the above shot, not so much in the next shot.

The above shot is my favorite of the night. I shot some retail product photos for Narumi a few years ago as she has a shop in Tokyo, but haven't seen her in awhile. And hope to see her again soon!

Push It

As I look back at my photos, many are good but I would like to be closer, not just physically but from a connected sense. Jacob Sobol has a great grasp on this and there is one photo he has of a man looking out of bus that is just riveting.

So I thought to give it a try, come in tight through the window and yes, aggressive just to see what would happen:

So then what, how angry did she get? How hostile? How upset?

Sweet as can be, no problem.

Pro tip: Tight. Close. Low. Repeat.

Open Photos

Closed photos convey a direct, clear message to the viewer. Open photos are just that, open to the viewer to decide the story line.

How would you caption this next one?