Featurepics.com Front Page Featured Image
By Pywrit | May 8, 2008
My mother and child image of a mother kissing her daughter while the child drinks from a bottle made the Featurepics.com front page feature image selection. 13 photos were chosen for their Mother’s Day theme. I must say, it feels pretty darn good to have a photo on the front page.
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The Art Snob
By Pywrit | May 6, 2008
One of my favorite types of people one encounters when dealing with art is the “art snob”. We’ve all met them. They are in every facet of art from artist to seller to buyer to looker. Basically, the art snob is someone who has an opinion and anyone who does not share in their opinion “has no knowledge of art.” Whether in photography, painting, sculpture or writing, these people exist.
Now, here is the problem with art snobs. Most of them are highly educated. Most of them have studied a great deal about art. All of them are very closed minded. And they are disallowing themselves from the enjoyment of art as an artform. Their biggest problem is they have a narrow opinion of what defines art and anything that is not dead center is not art. Alas, the truth could not be further away from these poor people. Unfortunately, they do exist. So how do you handle them?
The answer is simple: either ignore them or continue to antagonize them. In the time I spend of photographer forums, I have seen a lot of newcomers ask questions only to have some art snob blast the poor person for no other reason than they have nothing better to say. It is sad when an artist becomes a snob. Why? Because it generally means that the artist has little belief in their own abilities. There is also the territorial instinct. The artist snob sees someone who is competition and instantly squashes that person. And, of course, there is the “I’m too good to actually spend time helping you improve so I’ll waste my time being mean.” Photographers especially can get very mean.
It is my opinion, and that is all it is, that a true artist relishes the role of mentor. An artist/mentor is much like a parent. There is no surer way of continuing your style than bringing up someone in your own methodology and style. Sure, the student will eventually develop his/her own style, but your teachings will always reflect in that style in a small way.
I keep this in mind any time someone asks me for help - on anything.
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Trashy Vs. Artistic - Some Thoughts On Technique
By Pywrit | May 3, 2008
Okay, so I’m on Model Mayhem now with a minimal portfolio. As any good photographer would, I spent some time checking out other photographers’ portfolios. Some of these are really good. Some are not so good. One of the things I have noticed it that a number of photographers - not in the majority, mind you, but enough - seem to have an inclination for blown out highlights (the really bright areas in a photo). There are times when this technique works for an artistic photo, but unless it is done carefully, it can be horrible. What bothers me is that some of these photographers can’t tell the difference. I’ve seen way too many shots that are so blown out it borders on ridiculous. This drives me nuts. It is one thing to use the highlights to bring the viewer’s eye to a certain area of the photo, but another when it draws the eye away or even obsures the subject.
Then there are those who understand light, but not shadow. They put models behind studio lights and never change or adjust the lighting. They photos are technically decent, but there is zero creativity behind them. These guys could have a great career as Wal*Mart photographers.
And the last one is a personal pet peeve of mine: A beautiful model in lingerie in the wilderness. What is up with this? Where in the world do women stroll through the desert or a forest wearing only their panties and a bra? I wanna know so I can see it for myself. A swimsuit is okay. Nude is okay. But lingerie? There is a market for this, but I really just can’t understand why. It just strikes me as silly, cheesy, and contrived.
So, before you get after me about blasting poor photographers on MM, let me say that there are plenty of very, very good and creative photographers there as well - with a great range of styles. With such a great variety of models and photographers, I feel considerably more comfortable there with my style of photography than I do at either MioTalent.com (cliquish and glamour oriented) or OneModelPlace.com (mostly glamour, but not completely). MM has a great sense of community that the other two lack. It strikes me as a nice place to be.
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Photographer Test Drive Cancelled due to weather
By Pywrit | May 2, 2008
The photographer Test Drive I had planned for this afternoon has been cancelled due to the weather. I do not want anyone getting injured due to the thunderstorms and rain we have running through this area at the present time.
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On Photography Awards & Contests
By Pywrit | May 2, 2008
Every year there are thousands upon thousands of contests and awards handed out to photographers. You’ll see this listed on many photographer’s websites and in their promotional materials. Personally, I don’t do contests nor do I try for awards. Many of the people I know have asked why. The answer is simple: I have no desire to compete in contests nor do I really care about awards.
Now don’t get me wrong here for I know a lot of people in various occupations who have won awards for all kinds of things and these people are quite proud of them. My hat - well, if I wore a hat - is off to them. Congratulations! Really. I mean it. But it has been my experience that, more often than not, awards are simply a matter of playing politics and promotion. They have less to do with skill than popularity.
In art, popularity is rarely the sign of artistry. Most true artists are too busy creating to worry about winning accolades. As a matter of fact, it is the creation that is the reward - the release of the demons that torment us. Yes, artists are tormented. Not every demon is out to destroy the artist - but it does inspire and spur the artist to create. If someone wants to give us an award, great, but true artists are less concerned with awards than they are about the most important thing - to make something that is memorable.
The trend I’ve noticed over the last 20 or so years is to create something that can win an award. Why? Because the award offers prestige. It doesn’t necessarily mean the work is the best. Too many artists these days strive for this - from painting to music to writing to photography. Tell me this though, which would a writer rather have: a prestigious award or a best-selling novel? The answer: most writers would rather have the best-selling novel - especially when it comes time to pay the bills. Besides, the best reward any artist can have in any field is the knowledge that their work is appreciated by people, not a panel of judges sequestered in a room reading manuscripts or surveying photographs. Still, while awards are nice, they are not something I personally covet. The appreciation of an email, letter or phone call saying “wow, I love the pictures you took of me/my children/my family/etc.” are far more satisfying.
As a photographer, I don’t try to please the masses and I couldn’t care less about a judge in some far away city. I try to please the individual. That is far more important to me than winning a contest or an award. The smiles and the “oohs and ahhs” of someone looking at an exceptional photo is what makes this whole job worth it. It is my (not-so) humble opinion that this is what inspires the best photographers. It is what inspires me.
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Photographer “Test Drive” Session - May 2nd, 2008 - Emery Park
By Pywrit | April 29, 2008
The Photographer Test Drive has been cancelled due to the weather. Don’t want anyone out playing in a thunderstorm. Jeff
A lot of individuals are hesitant to hire a new photographer. You don’t buy a car without test driving it first - right? So why can’t you “test drive” the photographer first. So I’m thinking about having a “test drive” session from 4-6 PM on Friday, May 2nd, at Louis Emery County Park, just east of the town of Hillsdale on State Road. The idea is that I will take a couple of shots of those people who are interested in hiring me, but want to see what I can do for them. So, whether you are looking for a portrait photographer or a chance to do some modeling, this is a great, informal chance for us to meet and to have some of your questions answered.
There are a couple of small rules of course. First, you will need to sign a model release for the images allowing me to use the shots in my portfolio. This is not my standard generic model release as these photos will not be used elsewhere. Because of this, comes rule 2: You need to be either 18 years or older with a valid photo ID or have a parent/legal guardian with you. It will help me if you drop me an email at pywrit@msn.com saying you will be there, but not mandatory.
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Ahhh, Spring! Ahhh, Family Reunions!
By Pywrit | April 25, 2008
Finally! Temperatures in the 70’s, blue skies, sun, breezes, trees budding, weeds growing, the grass turning green. These are a few of my favorite things - well, except for the confounded weeds. There is also a bird who has taken residence in a nearby tree who loves to sing in the pre-dawn morning - loudly. And repeatedly. And for a long time. But on the bright side, I don’t have to worry about whether or not I remembered to set my alarm clock the night before.
But, on a more serious note, this is the time to start making plans for hiring a photographer for the summer months if you have not already done so. The kids will be out of school. There is fun to be had whether it is camping or hanging out in the park. There are cars to wash and gardens to tend. All can be wonderful photographic settings. There are weddings taking place and family reunions.
Speaking of family reunions - what better time to get photos of the event along with portraits of everyone who attends - in all their radiant, maddening, goofy, fun-loving, silly, happy, sad moments. The price for a Family Reunion Session starts at $300. You can find out more details by clicking here.
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Photography Shoot 4/11/08
By Pywrit | April 16, 2008
Every great once in a while, it seems as if the stars all come into perfect alignment and all is right with the universe. Such is what happened last Friday. I went out to shoot some shots for a woman who’s teenage daughter needed some school pictures. I was still feeling the effects of the nasty head cold I’ve been fighting for two weeks now, but I had promised I’d be there.
Hauling the equipment inside (and back outside later) left me short of breath and wheezing. But I stuggled on, talking with the mother while the daughter got ready. I was pleased to find a red loveseat in their basement where we were shooting. I had, luckily enough, brought a navy blue backdrop and the loveseat created a vivid contrast to the backdrop.
After all was set up and we began shooting, I realized that the daughter was a natural in front of the camera. She was also pretty and had a warm, friendly smile that really worked. She did what she was asked to do without complaint or seeming put out. She did everything so naturally. Everything went beautifully.
After all was said and done, I took the photos home and began working on them. I was delighted to find that I had a treasure trove of photos to work with. Of the 86 shots I had taken, well over 1/2 were very good to great shots. Now, I’d like to take credit for all of it, but the fact is that both the mother and the daughter were relaxed and did their parts. They are as much to credit for such a wonderful shoot as I could ever be.
Now if every shoot when as pleasantly as this one . . .
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Spammers At It Again
By Pywrit | April 1, 2008
Yes, the spammers are at it again - spoofing the pywrit.com email host in their crap. If you have received any non-legitimate email with a domain name of pywrit.com, it was not me - nor is the mail server hacked. It is simply some stupid moron too lazy to get a real job using a return email of pywrit.com. Ignore it and delete it if it comes from anyone but me with the address pywrit (at) pywrit.com.
I really wish someone would find these idiots and chop of all their fingers and toes. Not very humanitarian, but that is the way I feel about worthless, lazy, good-for-nothing people with little to do but being annoying.
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Copyright & Portrait Photography
By Pywrit | March 30, 2008
One of the most misunderstood areas of photography is how copyright law applies to photos. While there are a number of books on the subject, I’ll give you a brief and simple rundown of how it works.
First, the copyright belongs to the photographer, not the subject - even if the photographer was hired to take portraits. Basically, this means that the customer is not allowed to distribute the photos without the photographer’s consent and they are certainly not allowed to sell the photos . . . period! There is a caveat to this: When a photographer is hired to take photos, especially in the case of portraits, there is an expectation that the customer will be distributing those photos to family, friends, maybe using them online, etc. I don’t think there is a court in the U.S. that would uphold a claim if a customer posted their professionally taken portrait on a website or business card. Of course, I don’t think there is a photographer who would have a problem with this anyway . . . especially if they are given credit for the photo.
“If the photographer holds the copyright, then what is to prevent him/her from selling photos of me?” you ask. Well, there is a provision for right to privacy which states that the subject has the right to privacy and the selling and/or public display of photos without authorization violates that right to privacy. Photographers who plan to sell photos will always have the people in a photograph sign a Model Release, which is a legal form that states that the subject of the photos knows the images will be sold and/or used publicly and gives their permission to the photographer to do so. It also protects the photographer in cases in which the buyer of a photo uses the images in a way for which the subject of the photo has an objection. Basically, it puts all the blame on how a purchased photo is used on the photo buyer. As photographers, we cannot always know how the buyers of our photos plan to use the work and, just like in the rest of the world, there are those few who will lie or steal in order to get what they want. Most portrait photographers also have a provision in their contracts that state that, by signing the contract, the photographer may use the photos in their portfolio. This is standard - for how can a photographer show how good he/she is if he/she cannot show people his/her work?
The copyright can be transferred to the subject, but expect to pay a hefty price for that. Even in portrait photography, expect the photographer to at least double his price if you want to own the copyrights to the photos, and it will probably be considerably more than that.
While the whole copyright issue can be distressing to a small number of people who worry about such things, the reality is that the vast majority of photographers are good, hard-working people. They are not out there to do you wrong. Anything that would hurt their professional reputation would cost them far more than they would ever make by being dishonest or deceitful. My advice is to not worry about copyrights unless you are a professional model.
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