To introduce the guest on this show I’d like to start by giving a bit of background…

The first time I met Troy Miller I was doing a presentation at a local photo group, Inland Empire Professional Photographers and Videographers. I had never been involved in groups like IEPPV, but they had asked me to speak at one of their monthly meetings. The way it was explained to me, after years of having landscape, wedding, and portrait photographers speak, was that they wanted something different. As a music photographer, I knew most of the people there would have no connection to my genre, but within 5 minutes something odd happened. While I was setting up, someone walking in said “Hi Troy” to me. I assumed they’d simply gotten my name wrong, until it happened again.

Come to find out, Troy Miller was a real person, and like me he always wore a black beanie. These two people though I was Troy. I wouldn’t know until later what an amazing compliment that was.

I met Troy later that night and, in all honesty, my life changed at that moment.

Over the years since, Troy has become one of my closest friends, I’d argue… family. That may color my opinions a bit, but much of what I do today has a direct link to Troy.

I ended up joining IEPPV because of that friendship, and ended up on the board. I started entering image competitions, and then judging them, at his suggestion. I was able to speak at the PPC Convention and Expo, because Troy told them about me, and that led to me liking the education side of things so much that I now regularly teach workshops. When I left the old network I was on, I had decided that I was done with podcasting. I was not going to re-launch Behind the Shot on my own. In fact, I had zero desire to manage the backend of a podcast. When I mentioned that to Troy his response was straight to the point… “you have to do it”. In fairness, he had to say that about 10 times before I decided to give it a try, but Troy Miller has been encouraging and supportive throughout almost my entire journey in photography. Most importantly, I see images in my head differently than before I met him.

So, why did I need this back story before talking directly about Troy? Because he does this for everyone he knows. He helps, mentors, teaches, and encourages people. He is passionate about photography at a level I am not sure anyone else is.

That brings me to Troy Miller, The Photographer…

Troy is a wedding photographer for a living. Along with his wife Marjorie, they run Imagery Concepts, a successful wedding photography business based in Southern California. He is also a fine art photographer, that loves photographing the world around him. His site spicyjello.com is home to his fire, ice, water, and kelp images, but this is a guy that can shoot anything. I have walked down the Las Vegas strip with him confused at what he’s photographing… I actually couldn’t “see” what he could. I am baffled at the way he sees light.

Troy is an educator, lecturer, image competition judge and PPA Master Photographer. He has done a few online classes for my old network, This Week in Photo, and recently released his Capture One 21 Complete course for TWiP Pro members.

My first introduction to Infrared photography was also through Troy. We were at Photoshop World, and Rick Sammon suggested we all head out to Red Rock the next day. I of course asked “what time”, and Rick suggested we pick him up at 4:30am. As a side note, 4:30am is hell to me. I would rather stay up until 4:30 than get up at 4:30. Still, that chance to shoot the sunrise with two of my favorites creatives won, and we went out early the next day. I was fascinated by IR, and I have watched him since as he has created some amazing IR images.

Join my friend Troy Miller and me as we explore the world of infrared photography, from the gear required to the different way you need to see the world, and as we take a look at the making of his image Moonrise Over Hearst Castle, on this Behind the Shot.

Fine Art Portfolio: spicyjello.com

Website: imageryconcepts.com

Capture One Complete: thisweekinphoto.com

Galen Rowell: wikipedia.org

Spencer’s Camera & Photo: spencerscamera.com