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Click To Listen>> Photography Podcast. PPS #65
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Gavin Seim

This week Gavin just talks about things. Life, photography, business stress, some selling ideas, working with venues and more.

Podcast #65 forum discussion:

Gavins Lightroom Power LIVE online is next week.

Notable Time Indexes:

• 00:00 Some personal thoughts from Gav.
• 13:10 Talking shop and stuff.
• 32:45 Promoting to venues.
• 45:45 Thoughts on selling large fine art.

Article about signing and branding your prints.

Gavin’s fine art images.

The Wall Portrait article.

Promo codes on the deals page.

What is Epic. In Websters I found this… “extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope” Bottom line is it’s that perfectly amazing photo we always want to bring home. There are unwritten rules in my mind that define the various levels of epic, but rather than confuse you lets just agree that to be epic it has to be really good. I get them sometimes, but often when I think I’m trying the hardest I have the worst time and I figured out why. It’s because an epic photograph is not so much about finding an epic subject as it is learning to make an ordinary subject epic.

For example. I have a far easier time getting epic portraits than I do with fine art. “Why is that” I thought to myself. It’s not because I can’t photograph other scenes well. Sometimes I mentally make the excuse that I just don’t have good enough locations to work with. “Maybe I need to go somewhere exotic” I think. But I know better. Washington is one of the most beautiful and varied places in the world.

Why then? It’s because on a paid portrait session the pressure is on and I happen to work well under pressure. I don’t get to choose my subject. I have to make my client look good and I have to do with in the conditions available to me in the time allotted. Yes it’s more stressful for sure but it makes me look deeper at how I can be creative with a scene. I don’t always achieve that epic image but I always bring home good work. On the other hand when I get in my car and go shopping for something from which to make fine art, I tend to look for the scene that’s already epic. Sure, I tell myself to look at the details because it’s easy to miss amazing things, but too often I just keep moving until I find something that strikes me as amazing. Something easy. I’ve made great images that way, but there’s so much more to see.

So how do I plan to change. How will the I become more better this year.  I plan to start taking the time to make ordinary things into great photos. Maybe even to go so far as taking a specific subject (boring or not) and forcing myself to use that subject until I find a way to make an remarkable image from it. Anything can be an epic image if you use it right. In all my browsing I see photographers take simple things made epic. Sometimes I post them to my Twitter.

Bottom line… Instead of looking for the epic subject, look at how you can make your subject epic.

• 1. Epic simplicity for epic photographs. Reduce clutter, look closer, stay longer.
• 2. Ordinary or extraordinary, consider any subjects possibilities.
• 3. Don’t just shoot and walk. Take the time to make it good.
• 4. Consider post shoot creative editing possibilities.
• 5. Epic presentation makes epic images.

For lots of inspiring images on this note check out 1x.com. It’s one of the reasons I started thinking about this so much. I’ll also close with a few of my own pieces. Opinions may differ on whether these make the epic mark, but epic is part presentation too and all these made it to the level of being printed as canvas wall portraits which dramatically adds to their impact in person. These are some of my favorites from 2009.

Finally, lets hear your epic ideas or some links to epic images, galleries or videos. Have fun… Gav

If you didn’t receive yesterdays copy of the Photo Couch newsletter which included the PPS/Seim Effects Christmas gift pack, I figured I would post it here along with a big Merry Christmas to all you readers. It’s been great having you part of the community in 2009.

PPS has teamed up with Seim Effects again this year for our annual gift pack. This years download has a nice selection fresh photo editing goodness including some Lightroom presets and photo textures. The best part is their free. Hop over to the Seim Effects download page below to get your copy, then share the joy. Also check out the deals page for some the promo codes and specials we’ve worked out over the past year.

Here’s to a great new year. Lets keep out businesses, creativity and kindness alive and well in 2010. Merry Christmas and see you on the forums… Gav

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by Gavin Seim: There must be a romantic draw to film because some still love it. That’s OK with me, even though I can’t totally relate. When I started in photography I was using film and the day I went digital I never went back. That was the days when film may have actually been better. As a teenager I remember eagerly reading things like “digital will be as good as film once we hit eight megapixels.” Then it happened and they still didn’t acknowledge it. Now with digital we can shoot at huge resolutions and get ISO over 100,000 for less money than using film.  Sure it’s grainy, but show me a film that will shoot ISO 100,000.

Some photographers STILL tell newbies to learn film first. All the while I’m thinking. “Stop wasting their time and money. Do we learn to ride a hoarse so we can drive a car? Their both transportation.” Fans of learning on film say it makes you think more about the shot since you have less of them. I say if you want less shots get a 1 gig card, or better yet a 256 meg. With today’s cameras that will make you think twice before you shoot because you’ll fill it up in no time.

Some of you may remember in the film days we heard things like “digital is great for learning because you can see immediate results and respond accordingly.” I concur. But now that digital is the norm people say “it’s better to learn on film because you cannot see the results. It’s teaches you discipline.” Huh? Something not making sense here. All the essentials like shutter, fstop, composition, focus and the rest can be learned just as well on digital and for less money.

If you still like film that’s OK. I know people get hooked on things and retro can be cool. But can you actually give us a real factual argument that film is better? I’m not talking about a romantic feelings towards film, I’m talking about some proof. With digital. I can shoot faster, longer, with less light and less resulting grain, then manage and edit the resulting images faster and spend less money doing it. What does film give me.

Bottom line. If you find film interesting and useful then go for it as long as you can still find it. Personally I would suggest learning digital first and then trying film if you like. Otherwise you’ll spend a lot of money on so so images that you could be putting into better lenses, education and more. In the end I think we all need to remember that it’s not about the gear we use. It’s not Mac or PC, Canon or Nikon, film or digital. Being a great photographer is about taking the time to learn and master your passion. If you want to make it as a professional it’s that too, but even more it’s about learning to sell and market your image to the paying customer.

Then again, I am just a young punk and I’m not afraid to change my mind. For curiosity sake I’ll add a poll below to how many of you are actually using film.

You might also check out this article on Seim Effects talking about getting a feel of film tones in digital and where things are going in the future.

Click To Listen>> Photography Podcast. PPS #64
Give us a Christmas gift. Review in iTunes, Vote on Podcast Alley

The Panel... Gavin Seim – Kevin Swan – Dennis Zerwas – Matt Bamberg
This week we talk about the latest, cool gadgets and great booking jobs.

Merry Christmas. It’s time to take a look at some cool gadgets and get optimistic and practical about profit in 2010. Don’t miss the last half of the show when we get down to serious business.

Podcast #64 forum discussion:

Gavins Lightroom Power LIVE online workshop. Registration is open.

Notable Time Indexes:
00:00 Introductions news and errata.
28:23 Christmas gifts and gadgets.
1:00:10 Business & Profit in 2010

Kevin throws the MK4. Also How to camera toss article.

Canon 1D MK4,  Nikon D3s.

High end point and shoot talk.

Olympus Pen E-P1
Panasonic GF1.
Canon G11

All the fun  gadgets.

Honhl Light modifiers are pretty cool.

Canon LV 7370 projector.

Rocket Air still rules.

Scan Snap 1500M.

Neat Repeats is a great way to manage.

Carbon fiber monopod under $100. Add a spiked leg foot. Then an 486 RC2 ball head.

The Lensbaby 3G is really neat.

Water Shield disks are the best printable.

Canon 50 1.8 is a great $100 lens. Nikon also has one. Also the Canon 50mm 1.4 is even better if you want to spend a bit more.

Rstrap is even better than before.

Stocking Stuffers.

Digital Wedding Secrets Book.
Sima SL-20 LED light.
Bean Vac for you coffee lovers.
Portable first aid kit is great for the gear bag.

Matt’s photo tips site and his books on Amazon.

___

Wall portrait selling basics article.

Kevin Swan Twitter.
Matt Bamburg Twitter.
Dennis Zerwas Twitter.
Gavin Seim Twitter.
F22 branding Twitter.

Some cool iPhone apps to check out.
One password.
Word shaker light
Run keeper pro.
Tilt shift.
DSR remote.
Google voice.