The last week of summer closes out with lots of great reads on Photofocus this week.
We kicked off fall with a bang this week on Photofocus, with Lauri Novak starting the week off with some great fall photography ideas to get your creativity flowing. After that, Troy Plota talked about taking behind the scenes images, while Vanelli discussed mentoring. Finally, Kevin Ames told us all about Xpozer, and Mike Hagen shared his thoughts on the new Sony Xperia 1.
Xpozer — the fast, frame free way to display photographs - Ansel Adams said, “The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score and the print is the performance.” The print is the photographer’s expression of her or his work yet few today make prints and hang them on the wall. In talking with other photographers about this, a recurring objection is the cost of framing along with the difficulty in hanging the prints on a wall. We photographers seem content to see our work either shrunk down to smartphone size, on a tablet. laptop or possibly on a larger monitor. I am guilty of this because it’s easy. I have even loaded my photos onto the alarm system panels. Yet … The print is the thing Lately, I have been making more and more prints. I like having my work displayed without the bulk of a monitor. While most of the ones I make are for proofing my digital work, keepers get push pinned to the walls in my garage or hung on the steel doors in the studio. In my living spaces, I am reticent to use push pins. They look so “tacky” (pun intended). And for the most part, framing is out for reasons already mentioned. I really want a simple way to show big work. Xpozer I have discovered a fast way to get big prints that are lightweight and easy to display. As a matter of fact, I just ordered my first Xpozer print a few minutes ago. Full disclosure, I was provided a code for the value of the 30-by-45 inch print. The process was drag and drop simple. There are several sizes available from the “mini” 16-by-24 inch to the massive (coming soon) 48-by-72 inch print. That’s 4-by-6 FEET! And the prices are super reasonable. The “mini” is $69.95 for print and frame, while “mini” prints alone are $39.95. The “massive” (when available) will go for $179.95. Ordering my print I went to the Xpozer website, found the size I wanted — 30-by-45 inches, clicked on it and then clicked print and frame. The rest was easy. I know. I can’t be that simple, yet … I got emails! Almost immediately I received a confirmation email that my print was being processed. Literally two minutes later, one arrived saying my order had been shipped. Seriously. I went on to read that I would get a tracking number within 24 hours. That is super fast fulfillment. As soon as my Xpozer arrives I’ll post an update.
Capturing outdoor and travel photographs with the Sony Xperia 1 - This is part one of my two-part review of the Sony Xperia 1 camera system. Sony’s PR firm sent me a new Xperia 1 to test for about one month. Like many of this year’s new mobile phones, the Xperia 1 comes with three cameras: A ultra-wide, a normal and a telephoto. My goal was to see how Sony’s new technology holds up to some of the other standard-bearers in the industry. I took the camera to a variety of locations to see how well the Sony cameras held up to my iPhone and my Nikon Z 6. Obviously, comparing the Xperia 1 to the Nikon mirrorless camera isn’t really fair, but I wanted to understand how well the newest mobile technology from Sony performs in the real world. Here’s my video review showing my experience with the Xperia 1 photographing my hometown from both the land and a kayak. After the outdoor test, I review the files in detail in Lightroom Classic to compare and contrast the images. I thought the Xperia 1 cameras were very good and held their own against the iPhone X cameras. For travel photography, having all three lenses in the Xperia 1 was a real boon, allowing me to seamlessly switch between ultra-wide, normal and telephoto. This matches my general photography storytelling approach where I bring three lenses with my DSLR /mirrorless cameras and shoot a wide-angle establishing shot, a medium shot and a telephoto shot. I loved the huge 4K screen on the Sony and wish my other mobile devices had similar screen capabilities. Overall, I think Sony has come a long way in the mobile photography realm and consider the Xperia 1 to be a real contender in the smartphone photography market.
Benefits to capturing behind the scenes images - Behind the scenes photos can be some of the most memorable images that are taken before the photoshoot begins. One trick that I’ve learned over the years was that there are a lot of amazing shots to be had offset and before the “actual” shoot begins. What creating behind the scenes images can do It’s also a great way to build camaraderie with your model and crew. I am a true believer in building trust early. Photographing models and talent in the makeup chair or while prepping cannot only get you some fantastic shots, but it can also give you a lot of insight into how the model will be on set. Are they shy, or are they ready to take over the world? Knowing this can help gauge how to direct them on set. If they are shy, building the friendship early not only helps both of you to get better shots but it also helps to strengthen the bond. This strategy can even work for models and talent that you have worked with quite a bit. It’s a lot easier to warm your subject up offset without the intimidation of the lights and the stress if performing. It can also be a lot of fun. If you sense that the model is shy, you can always just break out your mobile device and grab some shots. The latest mobile devices are getting surprising good. While you’re at it, try adding a “Behind the Scenes” section to your website. It’s a great way to stand apart from the competition and show your potential clients some interesting shots. It also helps show that you have a good command of your set. Most photographers have a least a few of cool behind the scenes shots to start with. How these images can help you and others These days it’s important to go above and beyond to not only show your vision and talent in your portfolio or website, but also to show the story and hard work that went into making the shot. I have landed many shoots by having an extensive behind the scenes section on my website. This is also where Instagram stories shine. It’s generally a good thing to be focused in your style and adding a little back story is the icing on the cake. So don’t be afraid to jump in and grab some extra behind the scenes shots. You never know what kind of magic can happen. (Editor’s Note: We’d like to welcome this post from Troy Plota. Troy is the Co-Founder and President of Plotaverse, makers of the Plotaverse suite of apps that can turn any still content into state-of-the-art looping videos. Learn more at plotaverse.com.)
Embracing the fall season through photography - I don’t know about you, but fall is one of my favorite seasons. Why? It’s finally cooling off, there are more colors in the world and the air becomes more crisp and fresh. What does this mean as a photographer? Get out more for some fall photography I am not a lover of summer or the heat that comes with it, so fall means I am out much more often with my camera. Where? Anywhere really. Head into the city or take a ride out to the countryside. Go exploring to find some new places to capture the colors of fall. Does a city near you have a “henge?” What do I mean by that? There are certain times of the year, usually near the equinox when the sun sets right down particular streets. Here in Chicago, the photographers flock to get these Chicago-henge images. Festivals There are plenty of photographic opportunities during the plethora of fall festivals. Music, food, people. Here are a few of the festivals that are staples of fall here in the Midwest (and in other places I’m sure). Oktoberfest This is one fest you can likely find just about anywhere anymore in the fall months. Polka bands with the members dressed in true Bavarian garb, people dancing, the blue and white checkered tablecloths. All of it is there for your photographic pleasure. Apple festivals If you live in an area where there are apple orchards, there will be festivals celebrating the picking of apples. Trust me. Just a quick search took me to this site which lists apple festivals in the states but also in Australia, Germany and Mexico. Apple orchards are a great place for fall photography. Take the family out to pick apples, shoot some candid family photos of the day. Create a photo book of your fun fall adventure. Fall and pumpkin festivals Many cities and towns have their own fall and/or pumpkin festivals. Again, there are so many opportunities at these local festivals. You can almost always find incredible food to shoot, people having a good time, bands playing music and of course, pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns. The only photographers missing out with festivals might be the die-hard landscape shooters. Even they should be able to find some shots covering these festivals. Wide, overlooking images of the entire festival or sunset silhouettes of carnival rides. Anything is possible. Portraits The leaves and colors of fall make for amazing backdrops and props. Autumn light is lower and less harsh than that of summer so your images will be softer, perfect for portraits. If you have a family portrait session take them somewhere with a lot of leaves, bring rakes and shoot images of them raking up the leaves, then watch the fun begin. Once there are piles of leaves, of course, they’ll want to (have to) jump in them. What a fun family photo session and you’ll get some creative and unique images. Events for fall photography Homecoming and football Homecoming is a big deal for many high school kids — the big game, the dance, getting dressed up and along with that comes the photos. This is a good opportunity to have images of your kids when they actually want their photos taken. Make sure to get nice close headshots along with the images of their outfits, them with their dates and their friends. Don’t forget the details too, bouquets, corsages and freshly done hair in a style they don’t normally wear. Fall means football as well. Whether it’s your local high school or college or you get a chance to attend a professional game, take your camera. Locally you may be able to get a spot along the sidelines and capture some great moments. If it’s a big game at a larger stadium look around and take photos of the crowd, and the whole field and document your entire experience. Cyclocross Haven’t heard of or seen cyclocross? The season starts the end of September and goes through December. It is a blast to photograph. Halloween This one is easy. Kids and costumes, what could be easier? I once saw a portrait photographer offer the trick-or-treaters a Halloween portrait when they came to her house. If your house and yard are decorated for Halloween you have a ready-made backdrop for some fun images of the local kids in their costumes. Print on the spot and they’re getting one of the coolest treats ever. (Less sugar and their parents will love you for that.) Forest preserves and parks Fall tends to mean that these places are a little less crowded which means you can take your time, set up your shots and be more deliberate about the process. You won’t have to wait for people to move off a trail or away from that fence in front of that amazing pond. There may be more wildlife activity in these places now that the weather is cooling down. Take your time, pick a spot and hang out for a while, just be ready to capture whatever comes your way. Changing of the leaves Of course, this is the big one right? Check your local area fall leaves calendar, or head out on a road trip to somewhere that is known for having spectacular fall leaf colors. Smokey Mountains National Park has an interactive fall foliage map on its website. You can slide along the dates to find the peak colors for your area. So, grab a sweatshirt and get out there. Fall photography is invigorating and fun. What will you be photographing?
Everyone can benefit from a mentor - There is nothing wrong with being self-taught. You can go at your own pace, learn exactly what you want to learn and not have to answer to anyone. But this freedom has its share of limitations. By not having someone there to guide you, you run the risk of making the same mistake over and over, taking longer to build connections and sometimes it’s harder to stay motivated. Here’s how to avoid this risk by having a mentor because everyone can benefit from it. A chance meeting turned into a mentorship: How this example can help you To help understand why a mentor is important, I’ll use a chance meeting with a 20-year-old photographer at Photoshop World as an example. As a self-taught photographer, Taylor Cready started to feel the limitations of being self-taught. She boarded a plane for the first time by herself and flew to Orlando to attend Photoshop World. The purpose of her trip was to spark her motivation and to decide her photography fate. She networked with a few fellow attendees and hung out with them throughout the conference. The group went to Midnight Madness, a social event at Photoshop World. As luck would have it, I met her and the group standing against a wall all dressed in black. The group was fun and spirited, so I invited them and a few others to our traditional after Midnight Madness burger meetup. The group found themselves sitting at a table with Scott Kelby — the promoter of the event and a well-known photographer/educator — and many of the instructors. They had a chance to socialize, listen to what was new in the photo industry and a chance to ask questions. I chatted with Taylor about her photography goals, and about 10 minutes into the conversation I stopped her and asked, “Who is your mentor?” The confused look on her face told me she didn’t have one. I asked her why not and her excuses for why she didn’t have a mentor were all too common. She didn’t know anyone local to where she lives, how do you ask someone to mentor you and why would anyone want to mentor me? What I heard was I would love a mentor, can you help me find one? It was 1 a.m. so instead of calling my friends I sent several emails out and asked at the table who knew of any mentors in Michigan. After Photoshop World, we stayed in contact. Building your confidence to ask someone is the first step in finding a mentor Finding a mentor for Taylor in the small town where she lived proved to be a little difficult. But we kept trying. A month after Photoshop World, Taylor saw I started to mentor a few members of the group she was part of. We included her the best we could with phone calls and sending photos, but it wasn’t the same. I could feel her hope fleeing. I tried helping where I could and even invited her to attend ClickCon in Chicago as my guest. While in Chicago, I introduced her to some of her favorite female photographers/educators — Dixie Dixon and Lindsay Adler. I offered both Dixie and Lindsay to use Taylor as an assistant during their ClickCon classes for anything they need, in hopes it could lead to an internship. At this time, neither needed an additional intern. I finally said, “Taylor, just ask me the question.” She smiled and asked, “Will you mentor me?” In my usual joking manner I said “NO” but then quickly followed it with a yes. The first step in finding a mentor is to have the confidence to ask. Don’t let ego or lack of confidence stop you A lack of confidence is just as bad as an overbearing ego. In Taylor’s case, she wasn’t sure how to ask someone to mentor her. I helped guide her to break that barrier and to just ask. After all, I couldn’t mentor her if she didn’t want to be mentored. To show you want to, you have to ask. If she didn’t have the confidence to ask me, I wouldn’t offer to mentor her. It would only be a waste of both of our time. The same goes for an overbearing ego. I’ve received numerous mentor requests from photographers that I’ve turned down because of their overbearing egos. They want to tell you how great they are and don’t want to hear your opinion. They just want the benefits of your network and connections but offer nothing in return. This one-sided relationship isn’t helpful for either party. Both sides need to benefit from a mentorship For a mentorship to work, both sides need to benefit. In Taylor’s case, my deal with her is I will mentor her, provided she writes about and shares what I teach her — along with her experience — here on Photofocus and social media. This helps to create fresh new content for our site and helps me personally by continuing to develop new and exciting teaching skills. Others I mentor to help keep my photo gear in order and assist on shoots. In exchange, I provide them with knowledge and the use of any gear they need. To avoid the feeling of a one-sided relationship, it’s always best to occasionally review your arrangement. This ensures that both sides are benefiting from the mentorship. This example showed how a chance meeting at a convention gave Taylor a new outlook on her photography path. Do you have a mentor? If not, use these examples to find a mentor because everyone can benefit from one.
