When I was a kid my father would often say, “Ain’t no one monkey gonna stop the show.” Over time I learned what he meant by that and it wasn’t until after his death I researched where that phrase came from. Although strangely worded, it’s a powerful message that has served me well in my photographic journey. In essence, it means don’t let any one person (or two) stop you from your goals. On several occasions, following this saying has led to great results. One of my most memorable instances of following this saying was when a model canceled last minute – and I do mean within an hour or so of the shoot. I had everything setup and ready to roll so I shifted gears, grabbed some props, and came up with what has essentially become my logo and one of my most watched YouTube videos. The image and video have also led to individuals all around the world reaching out to me to share their results and companion videos and blogs related to this idea. I could have easily packed my gear up and called it a night but I was more than half way prepared to do a shoot so I did one anyway. Another instance came as the result of COVID. I had a group shoot planned with another photographer and some models to do some close-up lips ideas. We did eventually get around to doing the shoot with just one model much later on, but the original shoot was canceled due to the pandemic lockdown. Once again, I changed my mindset, bought some supplies, and spent the evening playing around. It was a ton of work for just a few images, but again, well worth the effort. The manufacturer of one of the items (Outer Space Vodka) reached out and asked to use my image. I was delighted to share my efforts. And yes, even for free! My most recent example was with the amazing Lexi. We had planned on doing a blacklight shoot and she had reached out to a friend to help do some intricate painting on her body but her friend canceled the night before the shoot. Lexi and I discussed our options and decided to shoot anyway. I researched some ideas on my ‘bucket list’ and forwarded her some sample images of one idea in particular. We forged ahead with the shoot. Lexi applied her own paint which turned out AMAZING and the other idea we added to the shoot was nothing short of phenomenal! It also resulted in a kickass video, if I do say so myself. Once again, had we called it quits when her friend backed out, neither one of us would have these amazing images in our portfolios. So the next time a model cancels or a makeup artist comes up short just remember, ain’t no one monkey gonna stop the show!
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Rumor has it Instagram may hide the number of likes on posts in a few test markets here in the US. ABOUT DAMNED TIME! Apparently this test has already happened in Canada and I’m very curious if they have evaluated the outcome of the experiment. I’m sure most people are aware of how strong an influence social media can have on someone’s emotional well-being. Far too often, people use social media as a means to validate themselves. Self-worth should never be based on the number likes anyone gets – or doesn’t get. I have seen photographers get upset when they don’t get a ‘follow’ for a ‘follow’ or when another photographer posts a similar image to theirs and gets far more likes. I have seen models stress about the number of followers they lose over an image or two. Some models post increasingly risqué images in the hopes of getting just a few more likes than their last risqué image – and getting quite upset when it doesn’t happen. Additionally, some people will like an image based solely on the fact someone they know, like, or respect, liked the same image too. Likes and follows have become our affirmation, our gauge of acceptance, and the demise of our self-worth. I was recently part of a private Instagram group where individuals would post images (that are also linked to the same image on the public site) with an expectation that group members would like and comment on the images - all in the hopes that the increase traffic and attention on the image will help boost its overall visibility on Instagram. I had no problem finding positive and constructive things to say about their work and I honestly feel like I can learn something from everyone. However, I never shared any of my images in the group. It isn’t because I thought I was ‘better’ than that (otherwise I never would have joined the group) but more because I desire genuine followers of my work. I would rather have a handful of followers that genuinely appreciate and want to follow my work than a bunch of followers that like and comment on my images only in the hopes of receiving some sort of reciprocal benefit. This holds true even if it means zero followers or zero comments for me. For some people, getting tons of likes and comments actually affects their commercial value which in turn influences the types and number of commercial opportunities they may be offered. I understand that and think it is a completely justified reason to attempt to increase one’s numbers. However, I’m not in it for commercial purposes. Never have been. And I don’t think Instagram’s proposed plan is aimed at those individuals. I think it’s aimed at the skyrocketing examples of depression and suicide linked to social media. If your personal well-being is measured in followers, likes, and/or comments, you are bound to be miserable because no amount of followers, likes, or comments will ever be enough. If your goal is to create a commercial brand for yourself, garnering a following makes complete sense. Just make sure you know why you’re doing what you’re doing and manage the expectations accordingly. For me, the joy comes from the creation, not necessarily the public display that follows. That is not to say that I don’t enjoy affirmation but that’s not the driving force behind my passion, it’s just icing on the already delicious cake. So if Instagram wants to hide the number of likes and/or followers one has, I’m all for it. I’m willing to bet emotional health among the population of individuals using social media would increase dramatically. I also think people would more carefully evaluate each post individually on its merits instead of just seeing how many people may have liked it previously and simply jump on the bandwagon. I also think it helps creatives post more freely without having to worry about how it will be perceived and consumed by viewers. Instagram, if you’re listening, you have permission to begin the experiment in the U.S. with my account!
For months and months I kept seeing other photographers and models working with colored smoke. Seeing how I love colorful shoots (even though I am color blind), I had to give it a try.
I researched colored smoke and found an online store that ships colorful smoke grenades typically used for paintball games. Check out Ansgear to see their collection. They have several different sizes, varieties, and colors of smoke grenades. The grenades I settled on were wire pull basic grenades. I started collecting colors over a few months..
I knew I wanted to use several different models in several different outdoor locations for the images as well as a video so I reached out to several different models and started lining up shoots. I experimented with a grenade to see how much smoke it would produce, for how long it would produce it, and how hot the grenade would get (just to see if they could be safely handheld). The amount of smoke is nothing short of amazing. You can easily get close to 45 seconds of really good smoke with each grenade. And although they didn’t get extremely hot, I still decided to find another method for the models to hold them. Wife to the rescue! She found a decorative wire enclosure that worked great. Simply start the grenade, drop it in the basket, and swing the basket around.
Each model found amazing outfits to match or compliment their smoke colors and the shoots began. Since I knew I wanted to make a video related to the shoots, I employed my 8 year old daughter to man the video camera (cell phone). By the way, she is so excited her name is listed in the credits on the YouTube video. She’s curious as to how many ‘describers’ (subscribers) she has now!
I love several of the images we got from the shoots and the video is one of my personal favorites (despite the fact it is one of my most disliked videos to date – go figure). I am now on the hunt for more ideas that involve colored smoke. Thanks to the awesome models, my wife, and my daughter for helping me with this several month long project.
Flour – it’s good for more than just baked goods. I have done flour/powder shoots about four or five times now and they are still just as challenging and interesting as the first time I tried them. And no, I do not tire of doing the same type of shoot more than once. I learn something new every time. For this particular shoot, I enlisted the help of a competitive dancer, Sasha. I have worked with Sasha on a couple of other shoots before and I knew she would be perfect for this idea. This shoot can be done in a large studio but cleanup will be an undertaking. Doing the shoot outside helps alleviate some of the cleanup. I find the best background for these types of shoots is a black background. I buy packages of black plastic sheeting that is 10 feet by 25 feet for about $10. I buy two and tape them together with black tape giving me a single piece that is 20 feet by 25 feet. I then hang the sheet from the eves of a two car garage roughly 10 feet high - the rest of the plastic drapes down the driveway. I then place two flashes on either side of the driveway with flags (barn doors) on the side of the flash facing the plastic hanging over the garage door. Each light is placed slightly in front of the plane of the model aimed slightly back towards the model. The intent is to illuminate the model while at the same time avoiding light from spilling on the background. Despite many online tutorials, I find I get much better results illuminating the flour from the front rather than from behind. However, that just may be my personal preference. I then mark a spot on the ground about 6 to 10 feet from the background and obtain focus with the model standing on that spot. After that, I select a relatively wide depth of field (focus) around f/7 and switch the camera to manual focus. The camera remains on a tripod throughout the shoot and is triggered remotely for each image. After that, it is all a matter of timing. Some of the images were shot throwing flour on the model and other images were shot with flour simply flying off the model. Obviously the images where flour is tossed on the model take more timing accuracy but after a few attempts, you find the sweet spot. For this shoot, we also employed the use of a trampoline. Flour is placed on the surface of the trampoline and the model simply bounces on the trampoline. Setup is exactly the same. A black tarp hung behind the trampoline with two flashes on either side of the model slightly ahead of the model aimed slightly behind the model. When editing the images, I will darken the blacks and lighten the whites, or you can adjust contrast to your liking. After the shoot, you sweep all of the flour to the edge of the plastic and into a bucket or other container. The plastic can then be cleaned off, folded up, and re-used for another shoot. Any fine powder that gets in the air as a result of the shoot typically blows away in the wind. If you were in a studio however, it would eventually settle down on everything in the room requiring additional cleaning. Do it outdoors if you can on a night that isn’t windy and rain is not expected. I love these messy and crazy shoots and highly recommend everyone try it at least once. Go buy a bunch of flour, some plastic sheets, and find a model that isn’t afraid to get a little messy. And don’t forget to have fun in the process.
Whenever I have a bad day or simply want a bit of an escape, I will spend time reviewing photos of photographers I follow or I will peruse some of my own images with an eye towards editing them differently. I have noticed that the subject of my images changes over time; specifically from working with models to not working with models. Truth be told, sometimes I need a break from working with models. Although it is exhilarating to work with models and like-minded creative individuals, it can also be very draining. Don’t get me wrong, I love working with models but there are simply times I need to seclude myself in my own photography. When I look over my work as a whole to date, I can quickly spot the times I needed a break from people pics. It’s no secret that I am an introvert and get energy from time spent alone and my photography appears to follows suit! Towards the end of this past summer, I was embroiled in photographing and editing images for a pinup calendar. Once everything was, for the most part finished, I immediately shifted to still life and other creative photography ideas that did not involve a model - AND IT WAS REFRESHING! Another benefit of not working with a model is that my shoot schedule is dependent on no one other than myself. I don’t have to check with someone to see when they are available and I definitely don’t have to worry about last minute cancellations. If I want to set up my camera at 11:30 on a Saturday night for some macro images, I can…and do! Eventually however, I feel the urge to get back to creative ideas with models. After about a month of time away from models following the calendar idea, I scheduled a shoot with an amazing competitive dancer, Sasha, for some really awesome images. Oddly enough, it was another model that connected us together! Other than the nerves that come with any photo shoot with a model, I loved getting another human being back in front of my lens! As I have mentioned before, I rather enjoy the fact that my photography is all over the map from macro to abstract to astrophotography to portraits to everything in-between. Despite the fact that I find times I need a break from people pics, I have yet to discover a period of time I needed a break from photography in general. Hope that never changes. So if you ever find yourself becoming drained shooting the same types of subjects over and over, take a break! It's not only necessary but will probably advance your skills when you do return to the genre!
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