How Do Live With Your Images?

Creativity  Comment
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How do you live with your images? You make a lot of them. 1% get finished. Some become used in projects – slideshows, exhibits, books, etc. But, day to day, how do you revisit our images?
Website (gallery or splashpage)?
Online social network (Flickr or other)?
Computer desktop?
Printed contact sheets?
Post up boards (refrigerator or bulletins)?
Single prints?
Portfolios?
Print exhibits (in house/studio or offsite)?
Desktop calendar?
Greeting cards?
Posters?
Books (published or self-published)?
Give yourself many ways to look at and interact with your work – frequently. You’ll come to understand it better. Ways to improve it will become clear. New ideas will come to light.
How many other ways can you think of? Comment here!
Check out my Creativity workshops here.

Duane Michals

Photographers - Video  Comment
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One of the most creative voices in photography. Period.
If you don’t have time for the full 30 minutes, skip to 6:00.
Find more artist’s videos by typing video into the Search field.

Triple Goddess

Images - Photographs, Images - Statements  Comment
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Edge was critical throughout the entire process of composing Triple Goddess. First there was contour. What shape would the stone finally take? The original had been buried in sand. The stone was far too large to dig out, so I cut away the background that threatened to envelop it. This made certain determinations of shape. It may even have been the shape the sand made out of the stone that first attracted me to it. Had I seen the entire stone I might not have been so drawn to it. To date I have no idea what the full stone looks like, as I was only able to see a portion of it …
Read the rest here.
Read more statements and see more images here.

Canon 5DmkII

Tools  Comment
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I’m loving my new Canon 5DmkII.
I asked Steven Inglima (Explorers of Light – Professional Products Marketing Division) about the new Canon 5DmkII
JP   We all know the 5DmkII is an awesome 21mp DSLR capable of shooting HD video. Tell us a few other amazing things most people don’t know about the 5DmkII.
SI Here are three things.
1 – The 5DmkII has a very wide range of ISO settings and excellent exposure latitude in the Raw data. With the custom function ISO expansion engaged, the camera’s settings allow for a low ISO of 50 for extra
exposure control, and up to ISO 25,600 for the ability to shoot in near darkness.
2 – Live view mode offers the ability for very accurate focusing in critical shooting, particularly with specialty lenses like the Tilt-Shift type. When using a the Tilt feature of these lenses, obtaining very accurate focusing
on a plane not parallel to the imaging plane has always been a challenge… until the advent of live view. Now, particularly because of the 5x and 10x magnification possibilities on screen using live view, it’s easy to review
perfect focus with the lens’ tilt feature engaged, as what’s being viewed is the actual feed from the sensor itself.
3 – The LCD monitor on the rear of the 5DmkII is a very generous 920,000 pixels for an excellent review experience.
Here’s a quick roundup of Canon 5DmkII features.
21.6 mp – 5616×3477 pixels – 18.72″x12.48″ at 300 ppi
14-bit – 16,383 tones per channel
Highlight Tone Priority – adds one stop to the highlights
DIGIC IV processor for increased speed
3.9 frames per second
16-19 Raw frame bursts
310 continuous JPEG frames
New AF modes – Quick Mode, Lens Mode, Face Detect
Live Mode rear display
920,000 pixel display
ISO 50 – 25,600
Self-cleaning sensor and dust delete function
HD video (1920×1080 pixels) at 30 frames per second
Priced under $3,000
Find out more at Canon.
Find it in my Astore.

Learn to Earn

Creativity - Exercises  Comment
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audio_green


Listen – 1:52
Idea
Learn to earn. The more you know the more opportunities lie before you. The more you know the more productive you are. The more you know the better your product becomes. The more you know the more valuable you are. Investing in your knowledge base and skill set is the best investment you can make. Make time to learn. Learn after you wake up. Get up early and spend an hour inspiring yourself and satisfying your curiosity. Continue learning by doing new things during the day. Learn before you go to sleep. Go to bed early and read or watch educational enriching material. Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers suggests it takes 10,000 hours to become a master in a given field. You can’t make10,000 hours go faster, or pass them without interruption, but you can get to there one hour at a time. And you don’t have to spend 10,000 hours to see immediate benefits. Sometimes all it takes to transform ordinary into extraordinary is one good idea. But that one good idea won’t find you. You’ve got to find it. Make time to explore the hidden potentials in any situation and in yourself. Make time to learn. You’ll start earning immediately.
Exercise
Take action now. Make a list of the subjects you’re interested in learning or are most valuable for you to learn. Write at least six things down right now. Keep adding to this list over time. Next, prioritize the items on your list. Rate your items based on two criteria. What’s easiest to learn now? What’s most valuable to learn over time? Start learning the items that are both most valuable and easiest to learn. Plan to work your way to the others over time. Take a first step right now. Demonstrate your commitment to yourself. Find an online resource, order a book or DVD, sign up for a seminar or workshop. Do something. Do anything. Start now.
Listen to more inspiring ideas here.

Find out how to be more effective in your creative life in my workshops.

Learn to Earn

Audio, Creativity  Comment
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learntoearn


Learn to earn. The more you know the more opportunities lie before you. The more you know the more productive you are. The more you know the better your product becomes. The more you know the more valuable you are. Investing in your knowledge base and skill set is the best investment you can make. Make time to learn. Learn after you wake up. Get up early and spend an hour inspiring yourself and satisfying your curiosity. Continue learning by doing new things during the day. Learn before you go to sleep. Go to bed early and read or watch educational enriching material. Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers suggests it takes 10,000 hours to become a master in a given field. You can’t make10,000 hours go faster, or pass them without interruption, but you can get to there one hour at a time. And you don’t have to spend 10,000 hours to see immediate benefits. Sometimes all it takes to transform ordinary into extraordinary is one good idea. But that one good idea won’t find you. You’ve got to find it. Make time to explore the hidden potentials in any situation and in yourself. Make time to learn. You’ll start earning immediately.
Listen to more creativity tips here.

Iceland – Focus On Nature (August 10-14, 2009)

Destination - Iceland, Workshop  Comment
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Focus On Nature’s Einar Erlandsson asked me about my thoughts on my past (2008) and future (2009) workshop in Iceland, as well as my approach to teaching.
Here’s an excerpt.
Q: Do you see the light in Iceland as being different in some way?
A: Iceland’s light is ever changing. It moves so fast you have to stay alert.
Q: What in the landscape inspires you?
A: Extreme variety. Intense energy. Challenging complexity.
Q: Do you feel that the Icelandic workshop is different or has a character you can explain in few words to participants?
A: Iceland, both the landscape and its people, has a unique character. It’s very complex landscape with astonishing geologic variety – rugged seascapes, glacial lagoons, active volcanoes, Europe’s largest icecap, Europe’s only desert. The culture is simultaneously ancient (oldest European language, isolated genetic strain, different surname conventions) and high tech (cutting edge geothermal and computer technology). The people behind Focus on Nature are all professional photographers each with a lifetime of experience in Iceland. They know all the ins and outs of the place, the hidden spots and unusual people who would go unnoticed by someone without that experience. They’re extremely gracious. When it’s cold, Raggi pulls out a surprise stash of Russian Cognac. When it’s raining, Einar is suddenly found standing next to a student – with an umbrella. Everyday you’ll be surprised. You’ll get lost in Iceland. Be careful. If you go, you may not want to leave and you’ll definitely have to go again.
Read the rest here.
See my past Iceland blogposts including participant work here.
Space is still available. 10% discounts apply through April.