This Week in Photo (TWiP)

This week, it’s Jon Canlas on family and film. Jon knows kids. He’s got six of his own. He creates beautiful family portraits whether the kids are cooperating or melting down. And, he does it using film.

In this interview with Jon Canlas, he tells us how he works with families to get photos that shine with love and connection. Does he take them from one location to another to vary the backgrounds? Nope. Why not? It opens the door to more chaos. And, Jon says, ”Connection trumps background any day.”

I have friends that photograph families for their work but don’t feel like they take enough of their own families. I tell Jon about my friends and he says, “To me, that’s just crazy.” He takes more photos for himself than his clients. We talk about how important his personal work is to developing his voice as a photographer.

Jon does all his work on film. He tells us why he loves film. (He started the FIND film lab.) Jon does not let his photos just sit on his hard drive. He feels very strongly about printing work. That disk of photos you have from a few years back? You can’t use it in your Apple computer today.

Jon’s Simple Tip:

The number one thing is lighting. Don’t shoot in the dark nooks and crannies of your bedroom. Bring them to a window. If you don’t have a reflector, use a white sheet. Ask one of your other kids to hold up the sheet. Or, ask them to put it over their head and pretend to be a ghost.

Jon’s cameras:

Pentax 6×7 and Rolleiflex 2.8F.

(The Rolleiflex is a twin lens reflex. This is why a DSLR is called a digital single lens reflex.)

FIND: Family Guide and FIND: Biz Guide Use code OHANA that takes 35% off until the 19th of November

Connect with Jon: Website, Instagram

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jon Canlas on this family photography podcast.

 

AlphaMirrorless 034: How To Get The Most Out Of A Photo Workshop

As most of you know, both Andy and Juan lead dozens of photo workshops a year thru out the world and they have been doing this for more than a decade. On this episode of the AlphaMirrorless podcast Juan and Andy share with you their best advice on how to get the most out of photo workshop, from how to pick a reputable outfitter to how to prepare and how to enjoy yourself.

We don’t always have all the answers, but if we don’t we will research it and try to give you the best answer we can. So what have you got to lose, go ahead and send in your questions to us by going to this form.

Links mentioned on the episode

* Muench Workshops

Wishes of the Week

* Juan: I wish that those interested in running workshops do so the right way, get the permits, get the insurance, do your homework and do right for your clients. Doing things haphazardly affects the entire industry.

* Andy: Reprising old wishes: Touch screen!

Picks of the Week

* Juan: The new Sandisk 300MB/s Cards

* Andy: New small bags from MindShift: Trailscape and SidePath

Connect with Our Hosts & Guests

* Juan Pons: Website, Facebook

* Andy Williams: Website, Facebook

* AlphaMirrorless Facebook Page

* Muench Workshops

When it comes to Live Music photography, there are few photographers as respected as British photographer Christie Goodwin. She is a witty, fun, and amazingly talented photographer.

She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and she got her feet wet in fashion photography. For most of the 1990s she was an editorial news photographer for major wire agencies, and it was around that time that she developed the habit of outsmarting security to sneak her camera into venues to shoot her favorite bands. Then, in 2005, she was commissioned to shoot a live performance, and that same evening she hung up her editorial hat and became a full time music and entertainment photographer. She hasn’t looked back since.

Christie is the official photographer at the Royal Albert Hall – yup… THAT Royal Albert Hall. She is also a highly sought after tour and portrait photographer, having worked with the likes of Usher, Taylor Swift, Joe Bonamassa, One Direction, Ed Sheeran and more. Known and respected for always getting the shot, she can turn a run down a back alley into an iconic image. Her work has appeared on CDs, DVDs, tour merchandise, posters, calendars, and books. With over 30 years of experience, she brings a skill set to her work that most people can only dream of. In her free time she can be found shooting complex and frightening murder scenes for crime novel covers, but music photography is her passion.

One of Christie’s clients is music superstar Katy Perry, and when Katy asked Christie to shoot a show during her Prismatic Tour, one of the best live music photographs of all time was the result.

In this episode of Behind the Shot, I talk with my friend Christie Goodwin about her work, and how this shot was made – and the story is as amazing as the shot!

http://christiegoodwin.com

http://facebook.com/christie.goodwin

http://twitter.com/christiegoodwin

http://instagram.com/christiegoodwin

Frederick Van Johnson is best known as the host of This Week in Photo’s namesake podcast, but Frederick wears many hats. He is actually the CEO & Founder of the TWiP Network, not to mention a talented marketing professional, having helped build successful marketing campaigns for Fortune 100 companies like Adobe, Apple, Yahoo! and Aol.

He founded Mediabytes to share his love and knowledge of marketing with other photographers and creative professionals, and as a public speaker and educator you can often find him on discussion panels at some of the industries top events, or speaking to companies like AOL, Adobe, Apple, Panasonic, and Data Robotics. For select companies and individuals he will even conduct one-on-one coaching sessions on photography, marketing, business and social media.

Still, there is one hat that is not discussed enough – he is a very talented photographer. In this episode of Behind the Shot I sit down with Frederick to talk about one of his many experiments into the world of Cinemagraphs.

I have to admit that I was not familiar with this art form before this conversation, but after seeing this shot from Preston Castle – I am hooked. I even installed the Flixel app on my Apple TV so that I could browse through more of these. Join Frederick Van Johnson and I as he shares how he made this incredible shot, including the location, gear, props, light, and more.

http://frederickvan.com

http://thisweekinphoto.com

http://twitter.com/frederickvan

http://instagram.com/frederickvan

Inside the Lens 01: The Beginnings of Digital

The world of digital photography has drastically changed since it’s inception. We dive back in time to discuss the first “triumphs” in digital photography and how a young Frederick Van Johnson cut his teeth on early Kodak DCS cameras while in the US Air Force, and the conversation continues to discuss how far technology has evolved. The limits of light and technology are constantly being pushed, and a greater understanding of these limits helps photographers push their creativity further.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

* Kodak DCS Series of Cameras

* Sony Mavica

* MIT “Modulo” camera that never over-exposes an image

* Tutorial on Diffraction Limiting

Connect with Our Hosts & Guests

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

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

This episode is sponsored by Drobo.

TWiP 487: Amputees en Vogue

On this week’s show: Sony’s new 4K Action Cam adds optical image stabilization. Paralympic athletes replaced with able-bodied models in Vogue campaign. Plus a tourist is jailed for flying his drone in Havana.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

* Sony’s new 4K Action Cam has optical image stabilization

* Paralympic athletes replaced with able-bodied models in Vogue Rio campaign

* Tourist spends 13 days in a Cuban prison for flying his Drone in Havana

Picks of the Week

* Don: Cognisys StackShot

* Christine: Duet Display

* Frederick: Panasonic Lumix 42.5mm G Lens

TWiP 487 is brought to you by:

FreshBooks

This episode is brought to you by FreshBooks, the super–simple cloud accounting software that’s giving thousands of freelancers and small businesses the tools to save time billing and get paid faster. Try it free at freshbooks.com/twip.

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

* Don Komarechka: Website, Twitter, Google+

* Christine Alward: Website,  Instagram,  Google+

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

Credits

* Pre-production by: Bruce Clarke

* Post production by: Suzanne Llewellyn & Vince Bauer

* Bandwidth provided by: Cachefly

TWiP Apps 16: StudioBinder

Photo and video productions can involve you and a location… or you, a location, a producer, director, actors, make-up artists, lighting techs, DITs, PAs, DPs, first AD, second AD, and a whole slew of other acronyms. Getting everyone where they need to be, when they need to be there, can be a bit like herding cats. StudioBinder is your cat wrangler. A web-based app that organizes everyone in your production, notifies them where and when to be, and even offers simple confirmation that they will actually show up on set makes this app a must-have for anyone involved in serious production.

Join me, PhotoJoseph, for this episode of TWiP Apps with guest Shant Kiraz, Co-Founder and Head of Marketing of StudioBinder. 

Find out more about StudioBinder:

Twitter: @studiobinder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studiobinderapp

Website: https://www.studiobinder.com/

Platform:

StudioBinder is a web-based app and is compatible with all platforms.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Guest App Pick: Priime – https://priime.com/

Do you have a photo editing app that you would like to share on the show? Click here and select TWiP Apps to contact us!

AlphaMirrorless 033: Travel Photography

Following our last episode on tips for traveling photographers, on this episode Juan and Andy discuss travel photography. We discuss how to prepare oneself to make great images when traveling. We share our best tips and tricks as well as how to find the best locations to make great images.

We don’t always have all the answers, but if we don’t we will research it and try to give you the best answer we can. So what have you got to lose, go ahead and send in your questions to us by going to this form.

Links mentioned on the episode

* Airbnb

* Atlas Obscura

Wishes of the Week

* Juan: I wish people would worry less about their gear while traveling, be nimble and focus more on the experience and the images.

* Andy: I wish all airlines made it easy to use airline miles. My philosophy is to use ‘em when you can, because you can’t take them with you! Virgin America is a great example. Buy with cash or miles.

Picks of the Week

* Juan: Drobo 5Dt 5-Bay Thunderbolt 2 Enclosure

* Andy: ThinOptics reading glasses. Super slim, always in my camera bag.

Connect with Our Hosts & Guests

* Juan Pons: Website, Facebook

* Andy Williams: Website, Facebook

* AlphaMirrorless Facebook Page

Cover photo by Don Pine

In this week’s interview with Patrick Moreau, we talk about telling remarkable stories. Patrick is co-founder of Stillmotion. He’s won Emmy’s, worked with big companies like Apple, Canon, and Toyota as well as the NFL, and made a documentaries like one about a nine year old girl who sold lemonade to fight child slavery. And, he created Muse Storytelling to help people tell their stories in a way that will move them and lead them to action.

My question for Patrick: how do we make family movies that aren’t boring?Patrick talks about the four pillars of storytelling: person, place, purpose and plot. Patrick says if we take time before we begin shooting to think about the story we can take less photos or video footage that comes together more quickly and means more to the people who watch it.

If you want to make family movies that are fun to make and interesting to watch, Patrick suggests Smartphone Storyteller by Grant Peelle. Head over and sign up to get the details when the course launches. Mention TWiP Family podcast for 50% off the course.

Watch:

More about Patrick: Stillmotion, Muse

Find Jenny on Flickr, Facebook, Instagram

TWiP 486: Google Grabs them with the Pixel

Google changes the smartphone conversation again, this time with the introduction of a new phone they’re calling “Pixel”. But this time, the big G is controlling both the hardware AND the software, and they say this new phone has the best camera EVER attached to any mobile phone. Google are clearly taking aim at the newly released iPhone 7. But can they galvanize the somewhat fractured Android user base?

Also, Sony releases yet another iteration of their popular a6000 series of mirrorless cameras. The a6500 addresses a number of complaints photographers have expressed with this line, including the lack of a touch-screen, and 5-axis image stabilization, the a6500 sports both, features once the territory of Lumix, Fuji and Olympus

Links Mentioned in This Episode

* Sony a6500: A Flagship APS-C camera with the fastest autofocus and most focus points

* Google announces the Pixel phone

* Zoom introduces the Zoom Q8

Picks of the Week

* Martin: Breakthrough Photography’s X4 Filters

* Sharky: Michael Bass Designs

TWiP 486 is brought to you by:

5DayDeal

This episode of TWiP is brought to you by the 5DayDeal Complete Photography Bundle – $2700 dollars worth of training and software, for just $97 bucks. This bundle disappears forever on October 19th, so grab it now at TWiP.pro/5DD

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

* Martin Bailey: Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

* Mike “Sharky” James: Website, Twitter, Facebook

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

Credits

* Pre-production by: Bruce Clarke

* Post production by: Suzanne Llewellyn & Vince Bauer

* Bandwidth provided by: Cachefly