Days Like This…
March 13, 2010 by vard · Leave a Comment
Wow! Some days just stand out against the rest, and yesterday was one of them. I spent the morning talking about the utility of Social Media to a room full of non-profit organizations from our area. The last time I was that nervous was probably shooting my first wedding. :O I was really looking forward to the class since we were covering a topic I truly enjoy, but when it came time to get some sort of plan together for what to talk about in my teenie little 3 hour window, I really had a hard time with it. Part of it had to do with the material; as much time as I spend learning about Social Media and how to use it for our business, I spend an equal amount of time understanding that I have a lot to learn. But I guess that’s probably also WHY I enjoy it so much as well. And part of the struggle had to do with myself…the pressure I put on myself to do something just a little different than might be expected. This trait plays itself out in a lot of what I do and I think it comes from just trying to live each day as big and as loud as I possibly can. I want to remember every day because of the things that make it different from all the other days of my life. It’s a challenging, educational and fun way to live!
Beyond the nerves and the sweating however, it was exactly the kind of day I really look forward to. It was something new…something different! As the class zoomed past in a blur my nerves of course turned to excitement. The questions and the feedback from those attending really put me in my groove and it all just started to flow out. It really was awesome. Thank you Joy at the Berwick Area United Way for asking me to do this. You pushed me to try something new and I really appreciate the opportunity to do so…
Needless to say, this week has been a heavy one. Aside from the class and other projects, there’s still ‘the work’ that needs to get done. My backlog of editing is pretty ‘amazing’, if I can use that word describe it…? 
But I AM getting there. Thank you everyone that might be waiting on images for your patience to let me do this as best as I can for you. Seriously, it means a lot to me…
In the next few days I’ll be kicking up a post about some photography classes the studio will be offering in the not too distant future. The classes will either be the 1 on 1 variety where you have my complete attention and excitement about photography. And while I have a pretty good plan for ‘things’ to cover, the 1 on 1 classes will be very geared toward answering the questions you have. I see these classes as pretty customizable to your needs. The other flavor of lesson will be in small groups (perhaps 3-5 people) where each session is focused on something specific. One day spent on ISO control and how to use it in your photography…another day spent on lighting theory and ideas…etc. It’ll make more sense in the blog focused on that topic…hopefully I’ll get it out this weekend.
We’re headed down to Philly today to visit some family and give the girls a little big city culture. We’re all pretty pumped for the experience! Before we head out I wanted to get some new images posted. Some of these are from the end of last season, and a couple are from the beginning of this week. This is the kind of post that on the surface may seem less thought out or focused that most…To me however, it’s an example of what I like to shoot and the variety of experiences that make being a photographer truly awesome. Thanks for looking.
Rock On and enjoy your weekend!
The Nifty 50
March 11, 2010 by vard · Leave a Comment
Definitely one of the coolest parts of this gig is talking to people about not only the images we’re about to work on for them, but also about the images they may want to make on their own. DLSR camera’s have made it easy and affordable to make better images. The feedback, either instantly from the back of the camera, or shortly thereafter on a computer screen, give you a chance to make adjustments and corrections, reshoot and see first hand the results of those changes, usually immediately. At least for me, this is a GREAT way to learn. It’s linear and just makes sense.
The question I get asked most often is probably ‘what does it take to be a professional photographer?‘ The quick answer, a business degree! I get the feeling most people don’t want to hear that, but it’s all but true. That said, it doesn’t take a degree of any sort to make better pictures; just the desire to do so. If the image is pleasing to you, you’re good to go. Everyone has opinions, preferences, likes and dislikes, all of which can help you see things from different points of view. In the end however, being comfortable with yourself and what you’re doing with a camera is all that really matters.
When I get into a conversation about gear, particularly with someone new to photography, I bring up the lens in the image here; the 50mm f/1.8. Both Nikon and Cannon make it, as I’m sure many other camera and lens manufacturers do as well. In the ‘bang for your buck’ category, this lens stands alone, BIG TIME. Nikon’s runs about $120, Cannon’s is about $10 cheaper. When lenses regularly go for $1500.00+, the 50mm f/1.8 feels nearly free! It’s durable (the one in the image here is from my dads old film Nikon…its been beaten, dropped, tossed, shipped and forgotten about by various members of my family for 20+ years, and still takes a razor sharp image.). It’s feather light, awesome in low-light situations and IT DOESN’T ZOOM! I’m not going to get into the ‘prime vs. zoom’ argument here, that’s for someone else’s blog…but the fact that this lens is fixed at 50mm is WHY I like it so much.
This lens (and all other primes) remove the ability to zoom in or out at the the lens in your attempts to make a better image. Often, and I’m hella guilty of this myself, you’ll snap an image that looks NOTHING like what you were going for. With a zoom lens on, who hasn’t just zoomed in or out and reshot the same image? There are definitely times when that really might be all the fix you need, but I’m willing to bet in most situations you’re just closer to or further away from the same cruddy picture. The 50mm doesn’t give you that option. The only thing you can do is change YOUR position relative to your subject. Once you start moving all sorts of new possibilities open up. It forces you to open your minds eye to different approaches to your shot. Move left, move right, get on a ladder, hug the ground; different scenarios for making something awesome start to materialize quick.
I can go on all day about this rad little workhorse. Mine’s seen greener pastures, but still does what I ask of it. I use it almost every day and wouldn’t think of putting a gear bag together without this lens. If you’re looking around for something that will invigorate and inspire your shooting, give this little guy a try…
Rock On!
More blogs on the way:
- 1 on 1 and Small Group Photography Classes
- More Recent Shoots
Stay tuned…
Google Buzz…What’s All The Buzz About?
February 14, 2010 by vard · 2 Comments
It was an easy decision to decide to start incorporating new ’stuff’ in to this blog. So here we go. This wont be extensive or deep…I just have a question. What is Google Buzz about and how are you using it? OK, so that’s closer to 2 questions…whatever. I’ve been doing a little homework on social media marketing for a class I’m doing for the United Way here in Berwick in a couple of weeks. I use Twitter and Facebook and blogs for the most part, but I’m always interested in what’s happening in this field. Last week Google Buzz hit the scene and now it’s all you run across when reading up on this topic.
I’m asking here because, while I don’t use Gmail, I realize LOTS of people do. I have one, but only just opened it…and it was really only for research purposes…I haven’t done ANYTHING with it yet. So, to those of you that do spend some time in front of Gmail, are you seeing and/or using Buzz…
That’s about it…can someone shed some light on it for me…? Thanks!
Phoenix, We Have a Problem
January 21, 2010 by vard · Leave a Comment
Hey, look what I broke! Got inspired to move the blog over to another service last night. Things were going well until I started messing around with this end of it…you might have noticed some subtle changes ;P. I still think I’d be better served moving the blog, but what I realized over the last 24 hours, among other things, is that I can’t do everything.
Ultimately, yes, I want to be able to, but it’ll all come in time. There’s sooooo much I want to try and DO with the blog, the website and social media in general, that I try to dabble in quite of bit of it, but end up excelling in none of it. This blog is a perfect example. It’s lame as hell. I know what I want…at least I think I do…but I’ve really been sucking at making it all work. Teaching myself ’stuff’ is one of my favorite things…I love it. But I realized today that some things are going to take longer than I’m used to having patience for. Staying focused on the shooting and editing is pretty much primary for most of the season, but I still REALLY want to take some of this stuff up a notch.
On my run this morning I started thinking about video blogging – actually, I’ve been thinking about it for quite some time, but what I wasn’t doing was actually doing anything about it. I think it would be rad to start putting short vids together of shoots or some of the cool stuff we try to fill our lives with. Not because I NEED someone to watch it, but because ‘I’ want to watch it…and I think it’ll be SUPER fun to do. I have friends that can help with this, but I still want to know how to do it myself. Annie B and Jimmy C are both either in or getting in to video. I’ll be bugging the hell out of them to come have some fun with us, but until we can work that out, Connie and I can give it a shot. I haven’t shot any video because I was waiting around for some magical moment where one of two things would happen; either someone would come in and just start doing it for me, or I’d have some epiphany and feel like I knew what I was doing. Neither is happening…but duh..seriously, why would they? It hit me today that the only way for me to feel comfortable shooting video was to start, accept that I’ll be screwing it up a lot from the get go, and learning from that. Along the way, perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to have someone want to show me what I’m doing wrong, but if not, I should be learning some interesting and fun stuff, right.
Same for the blog…this thing stinks. But I can’t seem to take the time to make it like I want, and when I tried last night, I made it smell worse! I’m sure I know at least a person or two that rocks blogs blindfolded…but I’ve never asked. So now I am. Anyone out there really good at this stuff? Can I bend your ear for a few minutes? I need help with it. I want to get some video going here, links to the important stuff and basically take it up a notch, while at the same time having fun with people that geek out on some of the same things I do.
I know and work with some really cool and artistic people. It’s great! I know musicians (anyone bored and want to work on some soundtrack stuff for the videos?). We’ll probably both learn a lot and walk away with some cool collaborations on top of it. I know writers (anyone want to have some fun with that skill helping me get my point across online?). I know other photographers (anyone want to get together and shoot some time?). All the stuff I think about and never seem to be doing…that’s what I want to start doing…right now.
I’m starting to ramble a bit here…sorry about that. My brain has been in overdrive this week. I started helping Barry & Cathy Beck get their online presence stepped up and it just inspired me to start doing the things I’m thinking about all the time…I’ll end this here. This all sounded more clear in my head anyway.
Sunday night – if anyone is interested in dropping by, we’ll be on Oak St. (the one way thing). I’ve been running by those passenger cars for a couple of months thinking it would make a cool image. So I’m going to take it. Sunset, some studio lighting and an idea. If I hose it, oh well, it’ll still be fun. If anyone is interested in geekin’ out with us, cool! If not, cool too. I’m thinking we’re going to shoot some video of it all, just to see what we can put together and start the process of making better, more interesting videos in the not too distant future. Monday, we’re headed out of town for a shoot @ Daniel Oz studios in Philly…thinking we should vid that too…why not…
Basically I want to start having more fun…does anyone want to come out and play?
connected and moving forward
March 20, 2009 by vard · Leave a Comment
Wow! What a crazy few weeks it’s been. We really didn’t stop after surviving last season…and only barely surviving at that. I thought more than once about throwing in the towel and figuring out life a different way. But in the end, we’ve come out stronger and more ready and willing for the new seasons challenges. As I make a promise to myself to work harder (but smarter) and to be a better person in my personal life, I’m also realizing that it really is up to each one of us to MAKE life what we want it to be. So I also promise to LIVE LIFE more fully. As cliche as it sounds, it’s still true…and it’s becoming more and more apparent that understanding this might actually be a huge step in my life…
We’re about a week away from finishing the new studio look, which is going to rock LARGE. By the end of March it should be in shape for anyone wanting to stop in and check it out. And, interestingly enough, my new personal adventure into a greater online presence is starting to materialize, and I’m still not sure I know what I’m doing…but hell, it’s working. There’s a lot remaining to figure out, but what has worked so far is motivating me enough to keep plugging away until it’s ALL working the way I hope it can:
- More blogging
- More frequent updating of images/galleries
- Tweeting from shoots
- and a camera bag full of new ideas you’ll start to see in the coming days/weeks/months
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and now here on the blog…
So here we go…I guess we can call this Studio D Ver. 2.0 – Connected, and moving forward!