This Week in Photo (TWiP)

TriggerTrap Saga – ITL 07

Engineering photographic equipment isn’t easy, especially in mass quantities. This discussion with Haje Jan Kamps of TriggerTrap details the entire saga from inception to the end of a company that had many successes and failures along the way. We chat about everything that made the company successful, how photographic engineering challenges are faced, and a behind the scenes look at what happens when those challenges cannot be overcome. It’s a great candid discussion that I’m all listeners will find insightful.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

* TriggerTrap Website

* Going out of Business FAQ – TriggerTrap

* TriggerTrap Flickr Group

* (failed) TriggerTrap Ada Modular Camera Trigger Kickstarter

Connect with Our Hosts & Guests

* Don Komarechka: Website, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, 500px, Pinterest

* Haje Jan Kamps: TriggerTrap Website, Twitter, E-Mail

This episode is sponsored by Outdoor Photography Canada Magazine

Use coupon code ITL for 20% off 1-year subscriptions to Canada and the United States!

There’s one simple thing you can do, today, to improve your mobile phone photography. Get something to hold it for you! There are literally hundreds of tripods, mounts, clamps, and other devices floating round that are designed to get your mobile phone out of your hand, and safely stabilized onto any firm surface.

Why would you want to do this?

Well, your first thought might be that this is the best way for you to get in the photo. And you’d be right. Timer mode was designed for use when you have the camera safely stabilized on a surface. But there are many more instances when you’d want to relieve your hand from the job of holding your phone. For example, when you’d like to capture a nice time-lapse video, or when using apps that allow you to shoot long exposures. Locking your camera down on a tripod removes one crucial variable from your shot… motion.

In this episode, we discuss when and where you might want to employ the use of a tripod in your pocketshooting.

Canon Explorer of Light and award-winning photographer Rick Sammon loves his day job. A tireless, prolific and inspirational image-maker, Rick, called by some “The Godfather of Photography,” is one of the most active photographers on the planet – dividing his time between creating images, leading photo workshops, and making personal appearances. His enthusiasm for digital imaging is contagious. He is a man on a mission – a mission to make digital photography fun, creative, exciting and rewarding for others.

Rick has authored more photography books than anyone I know, with his latest, Creative Visualization for Photographers and Evolution of an Image, putting the number close to 40.

I asked Rick once how he describes his photography, and answered “evolving,” He hesitates to categorize his work. He does it all, and enjoys the freedom of not specializing.

With nearly 40 years of experience, this self-taught photographer has many accomplishments – and Rick as suggests, “When you are through changing, you are through.”

Join me on this episode as Rick discusses his HDR image Sunrise at the Blue Swallow.

Rick’s Work

Have an idea for an episode?

Do you know a photographer you think might make a good guest on our show? Maybe it’s yourself?! Just use the form below to contact us. You, (or your suggestion) might just make it Behind the Shot!

Printing with Martin Bailey – ITL 06

Printing is a perceptual art based on solid science. Many photographers choose to let someone else print their work, but what are they missing out on, both in terms of challenge and reward? Martin Bailey helps navigate the environment that fine art printers find themselves in today, from calibration and paper choices to equipment failure and the newest technology.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

* Colorburst Overdrive (RIP – Raster Image Processor)

* Canon Professional Fine Art Printers

* Breathing Color Metallic Canvas

* X-Rite ColorMunki Photo print and monitor calibrator

Connect with Our Hosts & Guests

* Don Komarechka: Website, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, 500px, Pinterest

* Martin Bailey: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

This episode is sponsored by Outdoor Photography Canada Magazine

Use coupon code ITL for 20% off 1-year subscriptions to Canada and the United States!

Pocketshooters on The Rule of Thirds

Remember the old saying “rules were mean’t to be broken”? No truer is that saying than in creative arts. In the world of photography, the established “rules” are more like “suggestions” or guidelines. They are helpful pointers to keep your mind focused on the story you’re attempting to tell in your image.

In previous episodes, we’ve covered various components of photographic composition. In this episode we’ll dive into one of the biggest, and most important “suggestions”, it’s called the “rule of thirds”. Basically, the rule states that, generally speaking, if you divide your image into a sort of tic-tac-toe grid, and place your point of interest on one of the line intersections, the result will be a more pleasing photograph than if you simply placed your subject in the center of the frame.

In mobile phone photography, utilizing compositional techniques can vastly improve your shots. Considering the inherent restrictions of the medium; no interchangeable lenses, no zoom, etc. (though some mobile phones now have zoom capabilities), using this century old artistic composition technique will help help you get better images, and even improve your photography skills when you pick up a traditional camera.

Your Hosts:

Frederick Van Johnson

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Giulio Sciorio

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Dana McMullen is a Mercury and Icon Advertising Award winning Creative Director, Graphic Designer, and Photographer. Canadian born and raised, and now living in Southern California, Dana is primarily a Nature, Landscape, and Cityscape photographer.

His background in Creative Direction and Graphic Design aids him in creating stunning images, with a color and complexity rarely seen. Having worked for a global firm, Dana is the founder of the communications agency EvergreenCSD. As a photographer he his work has been seen in galleries, such as the Laguna Gallery of Contemporary Art, and Forest & Ocean Gallery in Laguna Beach, not to mention an appearance in the Newport Beach Art Exhibition. He has been published in NatGeo.com, Earth Justice Magazine and Big Bear Living.

His list of clients, past and present, includes Xanterra Parks and Resorts, Bloomingdale’s, BakerCorp and EGA Homes, Volkswagen, OfficeMax, Genuine Parts Company, Challenger and Shred-Tech.

Join me for this episode of Behind the Shot, as we take a look Out Of This World, and behind one of his amazing Milky Way shots, taken out at Joshua Tree National Park.

Dana’s Work

Have an idea for an episode?

Do you know a photographer you think might make a good guest on our show? Maybe it’s yourself?! Just use the form below to contact us. You, (or your suggestion) might just make it Behind the Shot!

TWiP 500: Evolution

This is TWiP, episode 500! Evolution.

TWiP is going off the air for a short time while we prepare for the next phase of the networks evolution. I am so proud to say that we’ve recorded more than 500 episodes of the TWiP podcast, and produced hundreds of episodes from the other outstanding shows on the network. And what a ride it’s been to number 500 — but now it’s time for some much needed change.

As you may have noticed, we’ve been making several additions and deletions to the network over the past several months. Some of these changes have been planned, others have been a result of misaligned expectations between the network and some hosts. The net effect is that the network is getting stronger and more focused on the thing that we all love — photography.

So, while TWiP is in this short hibernation phase the TWiP Network *itself* is not going into hibernation, the main show — this show — TWiP is going into dry-dock for refurbishing. What emerges on the other side will be an amazing and much-needed addition to the photography community. This hibernation will only last for about a month, and the new show will launch around the beginning of February.

So, please stay subscribed to get the new episodes when they begin publishing. And if you’d like more information on the new TWiP, we’ve set up a special email notification list to keep you updated. Just head over to twip.pro/evolution.

I can’t thank you all enough for your continued support of TWiP and the TWiP Network, and I’m looking forward to the next phase of this amazing journey we call TWiP.

See you on the other side.

For the last episode in this “season” of TWiP, I had the pleasure of interviewing environmentalist, arborist, and naturalist Julianne Skai Arbor, also known as TreeGirl. TreeGirl has just self-published a coffee table photography book filled with nude self-portraiture of herself posing with some of the most amazing and majestic trees around the world.

I originally intended this interview to be about the importance, and process of photography passion projects. But instead, it turned into something much, much more.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

* Julianne Skai Arbor

* Tree Girl: Intimate Encounters with Wild Nature

TWiP Patreon

TWiP needs your help. We’ve started a Patreon campaign in hopes that you will help support the network so we can take TWiP to the next level. That means, new shows, more hosts, more TWiP! Please consider donating a few bucks at TWiP.pro/DONATE

* Julianne Skai Arbor: Website, Twitter

* Frederick Van Johnson: Website, Twitter, Google+, Instagram

Credits

* Pre-production by: Bruce Clarke

* Post production by: Suzanne Llewellyn & Vince Bauer

* Bandwidth provided by: Cachefly

TWiP Weddings 055 – WPPI 2017 with Jason Groupp

This week on TWiP Weddings, we’re delighted to have Jason Groupp back on the show to talk about what’s new for WPPI 2017. The WPPI Conference & Expo is taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Centre from February 5th – 9th. 

The WPPI Wedding & Portrait Photography Conference+Expo is the premier industry event for photographers and filmmakers specializing in the creative and business aspects of wedding and portrait photography and filmmaking. WPPI is a week-long event combining educational seminars with a major industry trade show and networking events, all designed around learning the latest techniques, building new relationships and growing a business in a friendly, fun environment – all at one time, in one place.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

* WPPI Online

* Professional School & Sports Photographers International Association

* Photo Plus Membership

* 2017 Wedding & Portrait Photographers International Conference & Expo

* WPPI Awards

* WPPI Print Competition FB Group

* WPPI Facebook group

Tips of the Week

This week we switched things up a bit and offered up our tips for photographers planning to attend WPPI 2017 in Vegas along with our must-visit restaurants picks.

* Bruce: Wear comfortable shoes & stop for sushi at Sushi Samba in the Venetian

* Jason: Make restaurant reservations ahead of time

 Connect with Us

We want to hear from you. Your questions and comments will provide direction for the show and will inform future topics. Send in your question and it may end up being answered on the show. Submit your questions for the show by sending us an email at [email protected]. You can also post a Tweet using the hashtag #twipwed. You can also follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/twipwed. You can also interact with us on our new Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/twipwed/

Connect with our Hosts & Guests

* Bryan Caporicci: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram

* Robert Evans: Website, Twitter,  Google+, Instagram

* Bruce Clarke: Website, Twitter, Google+,

TWiP 499: The Photographer’s Delimma

Photographer captures images of an un-contacted Amazonian tribe. Magic lantern unlocks your Canon’s hidden powers & 10 things to consider before starting at 365 project.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

* Photographer captures photos of un-contacted Amazon tribe

* Magic Lantern breakthrough allow you to shoot lossless 14-bit DNGs in camera

* 10 things to consider before starting a 365 project in 2017

Picks of the Week

* Sara: QuickBooks Simple

* Dave: Philips Hue White Color Ambiance A19 Starter Kit Wireless Light System

TWiP Wanderlust – Yucatan Adventure

Ever wanted to go on a photo adventure in and around the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico? Come join me and Federico Chieli for an unforgettable adventure! http://www.twipwanderlust.com

TWiP Patreon

TWiP needs your help. We’ve started a Patreon campaign in hopes that you will help support the network so we can take TWiP to the next level. That means, new shows, more hosts, more TWiP! Please consider donating a few bucks at TWiP.pro/DONATE

* Sara France: Website, Twitter, Google+, Instagram

* Dave Dugdale: Website, Twitter, Instagram

* Frederick Van Johnson: Website, Twitter, Google+, Instagram

Credits

* Pre-production by: Bruce Clarke

* Post production by: Suzanne Llewellyn & Vince Bauer

* Bandwidth provided by: Cachefly

Adam Elmakias is a Live Music, Tour, and Portrait photographer ,really anything music related, based out of San Diego CA. I have to say that this guy may be influencing more up and coming concert photographers today than any other person out there. When I started shooting live music Adam was one of the first people I followed, He has more social media followers than some of the artists he shoots – 187k on Twitter, 472k on Instagram, 132k on Facebook. Yeah, people like Adam. Part of that is the bands he shoots. He captures the images that a generation of fans love. He has shot for A Day To Remember, Bring Me The Horizon, Lindsey Stirling, All Time Low, and more.

As a tour photographer, Adam travels the world with bands, as their photographer. This can be one of the most stressful ways to make a living, but he can make it fun every day.

Music photography isn’t all there is to Adam. Many of the same bands he shoot live also have Adam handle their promo shots. He created the well known Lens Bracelet, and he has various other Elmakias branded march, He has his own Music Magazine called “Your Music Photographer”, He has taught a KelbyOne class. And my fave…. Adam does random free workshops. For a recent one in San Diego I was honored that he asked for me to come by, and the event was awesome. Young and old photographers walking around Balboa park shooting mini assignments – and the whole time Adam hung out and answered questions. I think that’s what is most amazing to me about this guy. He gives back, and not half hearted either. He is all in to help photographers. In this episode I talk with him about how he got into a very rare spot – behind Travis Barker of Blink 182 during a performance at the Forum in LA – and ended up with an iconic image.

Adam’s Work

Related Shots

During the show Adam mentioned he took lots of shots to get this one. He was kind enough to share a few of those, to help you understand how this type of shot happens. This is a great way to learn, and see why he chose the one he did from the sequence of images he took. Also it helps to see that even the best don’t get a winner with every shutter push.

Have an idea for an episode?

Do you know a photographer you think might make a good guest on our show? Maybe it’s yourself?! Just use the form below to contact us. You, (or your suggestion) might just make it Behind the Shot!