TWiP Talks

Jesse Dittmar is a renowned portrait photographer based in New York City whose impressive clientele includes The New York Times, The Washington Post, Apple, and Hulu. His work has been featured in esteemed publications such as The New Yorker, People, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and New York Magazine.

Jesse Dittmar

Dittmar has captured iconic figures of the 21st century, such as Denzel Washington, Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Tom Hanks, Patti Smith, David Letterman, the Star Wars cast, and many others. Known for using black and white film, his portraits convey an intimate connection between the subject and viewer, humanizing even the most renowned figures and capturing the essence of those not famous.

Dittmar has recently released a limited-edition book titled "Overexposed," which features 97 striking duo-toned offset pressed lithograph portraits of well-known personalities of the past decade. The book measures 11x11 inches, fully allowing the viewer to appreciate each portrait's details and nuances. With only 1,500 copies available, each personally signed and numbered by the photographer, "Overexposed" is a must-have for any photography enthusiast.

In addition to the stunning portrait photographs, the book includes personal stories about intimate sittings and subjects, providing readers with up-close insights and context into the images. Visit www.overexposedthebook.com to learn more about this incredible collection and to secure your limited edition copy.

Wedding and portrait photography is a unique art that requires an eye for detail and business acumen to succeed in a competitive industry. Troy Miller, a veteran wedding photographer and co-founder of Imagery Concepts, knows all too well the ups and downs of the business. In this interview, Troy shared his insights into the business side of wedding and portrait photography, his workflow, and some lessons learned along the way.

Troy highlighted the importance of being organized and having a well-defined process. He stressed the importance of understanding the client's needs and expectations and ensuring their vision is reflected in the final product. He also emphasized the importance of communication throughout the process, from the initial consultation to the final delivery of the photos.

When asked about his advice for aspiring photographers, Troy emphasized the importance of staying true to your vision and finding your unique style. He encouraged photographers to focus on delivering exceptional service and building relationships with clients, stressing that word-of-mouth referrals are crucial in the industry.

Troy emphasized the importance of staying true to your vision, building relationships, and delivering exceptional service. Troy's wisdom is a valuable guide for anyone looking to succeed in the wedding photography industry.

Troy and Margie Miller

About Imagery Concepts

Imagery Concepts is a husband & wife team uniquely offering a dual perspective with an exciting blend of romantic, candid, and photojournalistic qualities as full-time professional photographers for over 20 years.

http://www.imageryconcepts.com

This week, I spoke with Pye Jirsa, co-founder of "Impossible Things" (things.co) - a cutting-edge company changing the game in image editing with its revolutionary AI technology.

Pye shares his insights on how the software works, the advantages of using AI in image editing, and its potential impact on the industry. Join us to learn how Impossible Things is at the forefront of this technological advancement.

About Pye Jirsa, in his own words…

Pye Jirsa

I'm a photographer, but even more so, I am an educator and frameworks person. I like making complex things simple and easy to master.

SLR Lounge is where I teach people every aspect of wedding and portrait photography—everything from lighting and shooting all the way through to starting and running a successful business.

Visual Flow is where we simplify Lightroom Classic RAW Processing through professional-grade presets incorporating camera profiles and lighting condition-based development.

Impossible Things is our latest venture and AI technology that works natively in Lightroom Classic and edits images with 95% accuracy using your favorite presets. It's like having a virtual editing assistant that buys back your time and life.

Check out Impossible Things, and get 500 free edits: https://things.co/register

In this exclusive interview, renowned photographer Matthew Jordan Smith shares his experiences photographing the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, as he discusses his latest book "Aretha Cool."

Aretha Cool covers the multimedia journey of renowned photographer Matthew Jordan Smith's friendship with Aretha Franklin. It includes his fine-art photography and an audio commentary featuring iconic and never-before-seen images of the legendary singer. The book and his narrations are a touching tribute to the Queen of Soul. They celebrate her extraordinary life during the last years of her career.

Aretha Cool

©Matthew Jordan Smith

Through a narrated series of photographs, Matthew takes us on a journey through his creative process and the memorable moments he shared with the legendary artist. From capturing intimate portraits to candid shots, Matthew's images showcase the iconic singer's personality, elegance, and style.

In this conversation, Matthew shares the inspiration behind the book, the challenges he faced while working with such a powerful personality, and the impact Aretha Franklin had on his life and career. He also offers valuable insights into the art of photography, the importance of storytelling, and the significance of capturing moments that evoke emotions.

Whether you're a fan of Aretha Franklin or a photography enthusiast, this interview is a must-watch. Join us as we delve into the creative mind of Matthew Jordan Smith and explore the life and legacy of one of the greatest singers of all time through his lens.

http://www.arethacool.com

As a photographer and educator based in Santa Fe, NM, Rubin has spent over four decades studying and shooting photographs, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the medium. Rubin's distinguished career has seen him work with some of the biggest names in the creative technology space, including Lucasfilm, Netflix, and Adobe.

MH Rubin

Beyond his work in the commercial world, Rubin is also an accomplished author, having written a dozen books, including "Droidmaker," the definitive history of Lucasfilm and Pixar. However, Rubin's most recent work, "The Photograph as Haiku," explores the intersection between photography and haiku, arguing that the two art forms share a deep connection in their ability to convey complex emotions and ideas through simplicity and economy of form.

As a young protégé of the legendary photographer Jerry Uelsmann, Rubin has spent his entire career exploring the creative potential of photography. In this interview, we will delve deeper into Rubin's philosophy of using haiku as an innovative tool in photography, exploring how this approach can help photographers to create more meaningful and impactful images.

www.neomodern.com/book

Real estate photography is a crucial component of the real estate industry. It captures the attention of potential buyers and helps them envision themselves living in a home. In recent years, the demand for high-quality real estate photography has increased significantly as more buyers search the internet for homes.

Rob Moroto, a real estate photographer based in Calgary, Alberta, is one of the industry's most sought-after professionals. In this interview, Rob shares his insights and expertise on the real estate photography business, including the challenges he faces, the tools he uses, and the keys to success in this competitive industry.

About Rob Moroto:

Rob Moroto

Rob is the mind behind Calgary Photos, one of the leading Real Estate Photography firms in Calgary, and like many business owners, he considers himself a recovering workaholic. To strike a work-life balance, he loves rounding out his days by searching for the best Eggs, Benedict, and moules frties. You’ll also catch him participating in different physical activities like rock climbing, boxercise, and driving IPAs (the best way to build biceps, right?).

After moving with his three boys and wife out to Vancouver Island, he’s continued to be an integral part of the Calgary Photos family by regularly taking on one of the world’s longest commutes. To Rob, there’s nothing better than working with a great team and he runs his business by Richard Branson’s words, “train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough, so they don’t want to”.

While his love for photography runs deep, starting in junior high, the company started as an accident. After being laid off as a marketing manager for a developer, the photographer he worked with suggested that he get into shooting. As luck would have it, his neighbor was getting ready to sell their home and he had his very first photoshoot! The realtor liked the photos and the rest is history.

From homes to people to businesses, Rob loves showing a different perspective through his lens. He sees depth in every person and every object, no matter how plain they may seem. He can’t wait to help local businesses and talents find their beauty through his photography.

You can find Rob regularly on Youtube and Instagram and listen to him on the Photofocus Podcast.

Website: Robmoroto.comGet Rob's Real Estate CourseUse the discount code TWIP20 to get 20% off

I'm excited to welcome to the podcast David Vaskevitch, the CEO and co-founder of Mylio, a leading photo management and organization software. Mylio has been making waves in the photography industry, helping photographers manage and organize their digital images in a way that's efficient, accessible, completely synced between devices, and user-friendly.

In this interview, I sit down with David to learn more about Mylio, its vision, and its impact on the photography community. And below you'll find a software demo by David, where he takes you through the software as he uses it in his daily life.

About Mylio

Mylio Photos turns your computers, phones, tablets, and storage devices into a smart and powerful system for managing a lifetime of memories. With the Mylio Photos app, all your photos and videos — from any source — are cataloged in one library that’s accessible on all your devices.

http://www.mylio.com

In this episode, we catch up with the renowned macro photographer, Don Komarechka, as he shares his recent journey of relocating from Canada to Bulgaria. Join us as we delve into the challenges and adventures of adapting to a new culture and how it has impacted his photography. Don is well known for his exceptional macro photography, and in this episode, he will share his unique insights and perspectives on how it has influenced his creative vision.

Whether you're a photography enthusiast or just curious about life as an ex-pat in Bulgaria, this episode is a must-listen.

About Don

Don Komarechka is a nature, macro, and landscape photographer in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. From auroras to pollen, insects to infrared, much of Don’s photographic adventures reveal a deeper understanding of how the universe works. Exploring the world that we cannot see with our own eyes has been a common thread in Don’s career as a professional photographer.

Don teaches workshops in the areas of nature and macro photography, as well as photographic editing and creative compositions. “Photography is about sharing your unique worldview with others – without using words. Helping others accomplish the same goal is extremely rewarding. I like to see the world through my camera in ways I normally cannot see with my own eyes. Seeing the world beyond vision is a gift that photography gives me.”

http://www.donkom.ca

Tom Jenz is a photographer and journalist capturing the stories of Milwaukee's inner-city communities. He walks the streets, talking to and photographing Black residents and leaders, using his background as a film director to set up unique and compelling street portraits. His photographs are influenced by the likes of Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Robert Frank, and Garry Winogrand, and he has also developed his story-telling style. He released a book of his photographs called "Forgotten America" in 2014.

About Tom, in his own words…

I AM A WHITE GUY.

Tom Jenz

On a summer day in 2014, I started photographing Milwaukee’s segregated inner city after I stopped on a busy street, got out of my car, and started walking, talking to any Black resident who would tolerate me. Since then, I’ve captured numerous street portraits of Black people I’ve come across or gotten to know - residents, street leaders, religious leaders, artists, cops, ex-cons, businessmen, the police chief, the county sheriff, and even the current Mayor. I am also a journalist and have written hundreds of their stories, mainly for the Shepherd Express newspaper and magazine. These include feature and investigative articles and shorter profiles under my column, Central City Stories.

MY STYLE

Walking the inner city communities, I look for photo ops that reflect what is happening in that neighborhood. I might engage citizens by taking an interest in their backgrounds, then later getting permission for a portrait I set up as if I were a film director. Before I take a picture, I have a good idea of what the shot will be ahead of time because when a subject is ready or a scene develops, I have to move quickly. It’s like being a film director, which is also part of my creative background.

Central city citizens are almost always suspicious and can even be unpleasant. There is little eye contact among Black pedestrians. Yet, I always try to make eye contact with anyone passing me to see if there is an opening for a conversation. Many times, this approach does not work. I call it the culture of mistrust, suspicion of the white man, and even of each other. The ambiance can be like a gray cloud crowding out the sunlight.

My photographs live through my influences: Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Robert Frank, and Garry Winogrand, but I have worked hard to develop my story-telling style.

My fine arts photography book, FORGOTTEN AMERICA, Images & Thoughts by Tom Jenz, was released in the summer of 2014 but is currently out of print.

My short stories, fiction, and essays have appeared in various literary journals.

Tom's site: http://www.TomJenzAmerica.comShepherd Express Central City Stories: https://shepherdexpress.com/news/central-city-storiesShepherd Express: https://shepherdexpress.com

Today, I'm joined by PhotoJoseph to discuss the features and capabilities of the Lumix S5II, a highly-anticipated camera from Panasonic. Get ready to learn everything you need about this powerful and versatile camera, and see why it's a top choice for photographers of all levels.

About PhotoJoseph

PhotoJoseph is a professional photographer and educator known for his photography, videography, and technology expertise. He is also a content creator on YouTube, sharing his knowledge, tips, and techniques with photography enthusiasts and professionals worldwide. He is known for his in-depth reviews and tutorials on cameras, lenses, and other photography gear.

https://youtu.be/UwDD0ox85yg

About the Lumix S5II

Panasonic is proud to announce the new hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera LUMIX S5II and S5IIX as the latest additions to its LUMIX S Series camera line-up. Combining Panasonic’s latest technologies, the new S5II and S5IIX were designed and developed based on the excellent performance in photo/video and stunning mobility of the LUMIX S5 to achieve a more assertive shooting style of ambitious creators.

Panasonic has developed a new 24.2-megapixel 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor that complies with PDAF (Phase Detection Auto-Focus). The imaging engine has also been newly developed to achieve high resolution, natural description, and approximately 2x higher-speed signal procession for high bit-rate video recording. The new sensor and engine combination achieves both PDAF and high image quality - a hallmark of LUMIX.

In tune with the adoption of PDAF, the AF system evolved into fast, accurate Phase Hybrid AF, making it even more dependable. Advanced subject detection and metering technologies to capture the target subject in focus even in adverse lighting conditions. Once locked on the subject, it keeps tracking even in situations where plural objects are moving in the frame.

The LUMIX S5II and S5IIX provide robust image stabilization systems for wide-ranging shootingconditions and situations. In addition to Combining the Body I.S. in the camera and the O.I.S. in the LUMIX S Series lens, the 5-axis Dual I.S. 2, the correction power is maximized to allow a 6.5-stop slower shutter speed.

In addition, Active I.S. has been added for even more stable video recording. Active I.S. optimizes horizontal, vertical, and rotational correction ratios by determining the camera shake's status. As a result, the performance of the image stabilizer is maximized to achieve compensation of approximately 200% larger amount of camera shake compared with the conventional imagestabilization.

Get the Lumix S5II on B&H