Exposuretag:www.michellejones.net,2007-08-17:/exposure/132008-01-21T01:51:00Z: a blog about photographyMovable Type 4.1rc1How Current Events Influence Perception of a Photograph (or Tom Cruise Looks Crazy)tag:www.michellejones.net,2008:/exposure//13.18772008-01-20T22:22:33Z2008-01-21T01:51:00ZIn the book store this morning I spent a great deal of time looking at The Here and Now: The Photography of Sam Jones. Jones is a very well known photographer who is most famous for his celebrity and advertising...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.comIn the book store this morning I spent a great deal of time looking at The Here and Now: The Photography of Sam Jones. Jones is a very well known photographer who is most famous for his celebrity and advertising (which often features celebrities) work. The book is an impressive collection of celebrity portraits. I didn't buy a copy but only because Borders has it for $40 in the store and I can order it from Amazon for $26. I'm going to buy it and I very much recommend that anyone interested in portrait photography buys it as well. Some of the images are eleborate set pieces including costumes, props and staged locations while others are direct, intimate headshots. All are very interesting and give the portrait photographer lots to examine and think about.
So while all the images in the book are good and interesting and while I encourage you to buy the book that's not what this post is about. This post is about one image in the book, a shot of Tom Cruise that was used for a Time Magazine cover story. The cover story is from 2002, well before any of Cruise's couch jumping or his railing against anti-depression medications. In other words, the image was taken well before any of us started thinking Tom Cruise is crazy. I imagine that when the magazine came out the image was perceived as one of a handsome, charismatic movie star. He looks pretty and has a satisfied grin in the image, like he's got the world on a string as the expression goes. The unfocused colors in the background call to mind stage lights as if to remind us that "this is a movie star" while the deep, deep stare would seem to indicate that viewers can and should trust this man.
Looking at the image this morning in the book store my immediate thought was "wow, he looks like a crazy, charismatic cult leader. He's very frightening." Obviously I'm looking at this image with the Cruise Scientology video still very fresh in my mind. The unfocused lights in the background make me think today of all the science fiction stuff the religion purportedly believes. That satisfied grin? It makes him appear to me like a smug manipulator. Like he knows exactly what to say and how to behave in any situation to get what he wants and that he finds himself quite superior to most everyone else.
All this is to note how much context, current events and individualism very much influence how an image is perceived. As a photographer you cannot always decide when or how your images are displayed but when you can control those things it's wise to put a great deal of time and thought into the details that will influence how your images are received. This includes putting them in context when appropriate, including text descriptions, making sure prints are appropriate sizes, etc. ]]>
This is so cool: Flickr Announces The Commonstag:www.michellejones.net,2008:/exposure//13.18572008-01-16T18:35:55Z2008-01-16T19:29:53ZWow. It's been a while since I've been excited about something a company is doing so perhaps I'm a little overly giddy but Flickr's partnership with the (US) Library of Congress is just so cool. This joint project, known as...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Flickr's partnership with the (US) Library of Congress is just so cool. This joint project, known as The Commons, seeks to have acquire richer descriptions and information for photographs in the Library of Congress' photograph collection.
You're invited to help describe photographs in the Library of Congress' collection on Flickr, by adding tags or leaving comments.*
These beautiful, historic pictures from the Library represent materials for which the Library is not the intellectual property owner. Flickr is working with the Library of Congress to provide an appropriate statement for these materials. It's called "no known copyright restrictions."
Hopefully, this pilot can be used as a model that other cultural institutions would pick up, to share and redistribute the myriad collections held by cultural heritage institutions all over the world.
Essentially the Library of Congress is going to throw historical photographs from their collection into their Flickr account. We, volunteers will help catalog/identify/describe those photographs by adding appropriate tags and comments. This is a very cool project that allows community involvement, by using new technology in the process of documenting history the preceded us. Meaning, yes we can make and document history and we do everyday with our Flickr accounts but we can also record and describe historical photographs that predated us. We can make historical photographs more relevant and more easily found by increasing the knowledge and information associated with them.
I've been without a Flickr pro account for nearly a year because I haven't needed the space or any of the pro bells or whistles. Supporting projects and initiatives like this totally makes me want to get a pro account again just to support Flickr.
I totally love the openness of this project. I also love Flickr's note about being involvement with this project:
Any Flickr member is able to add tags or comment on these collections. If you're a dork about it, shame on you. This is for the good of humanity, dude!!
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Book Review: Digital Stock Photography How to Shoot and Selltag:www.michellejones.net,2008:/exposure//13.18292008-01-14T00:29:21Z2008-01-14T01:16:29ZA couple months ago I received a copy of Digital Stock Photography How to Shoot and Sell by Michal Heron from the publisher. I'm terribly behind in reading and reviewing it but it was a good, inspirational book to read...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.comA couple months ago I received a copy of Digital Stock Photography How to Shoot and Sell by Michal Heron from the publisher. I'm terribly behind in reading and reviewing it but it was a good, inspirational book to read near the first of the year so alls not lost.
Looking at the title and cover of the book I wrongly assumed it would focus on microstock. Perhaps because I'm such an internet person when I think "stock photography" I automatically think of microstock as well as the big agencies like Corbis and Getty. Microstock is actually barely touched on in this book and the term "microstock" isn't used at all. Instead sites like istockphoto are referred to as stock portals. Not using the common term and not discussing microstock in depth seems an odd choice but I really can't say the book suffers from that choice. If anything it's a really nice reminder that the world of stock photography existed long before the concepts of royalty-free and microstock were ever dreamed up and will probably (hopefully) be around for even longer still. ]]>
Outside of the microstock omission this is a thorough book that goes into detail on building and running a stock photography business. From organizing a clip file for inspiration and education, being thorough on stock assignments (including self assignments), dealing with models and locations, digital asset management and even rudimentary business forms (including model and property releases) this book has a little bit of everything related to shooting stock for money.
The author is very much a glass half full kind of guy when it comes to whether stock photography is a viable business option for modern photographers. With talent, hard work, the right business temperament and the ability and willingness to find and shoot "gaps" in the marketplace he believes stock photography is very much still a viable option for photographers.
I enjoyed this book and found a good deal of new information in it. Definitely recommended for anyone with an interest in making a living (or at least a little income) with stock photography. This includes people interested or even already involved with microstock.
Cool Copyright Notice Technique from Powazektag:www.michellejones.net,2008:/exposure//13.18252008-01-12T23:27:00Z2008-01-12T23:44:08ZYeah, yeah, yeah. We all know there is no way to completely keep people from stealing your images if you put them on the internet. That doesn't mean you can't encourage people to not steal them. It doesn't mean you...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
wrote on this topic almost two years ago and said "my philosophy is to help people and give them the opportunity to do the right thing and most often they will. On my photography website I list a copyright notice on every page stating that all the work on the site is mine. This reminds people that a real person created all the content on the site and if they take it they’re taking it from a real person. Beyond that though I offer the opportunity to buy prints and licenses of my work. I make contact information easy to find and encourage people to contact me with questions or comments about my work. I encourage them to do the right thing."
Derek Powazek has done some thinking about this topic as well. He personally doesn't like putting copyright notices or watermarks directly on his images because 1) it distracts from the image and 2) determined thieves will just crop them our anyway. He's come up with an alternative though. It's a technique for photographers to use on websites that puts copyright notices, reminders about not stealing and contact information in a format that's hidden from view (and therefore doesn't interfere with the image like watermarks can) until someone right clicks on the image.
It's a cool, simple technique that adds a layer of encouragement to your photos. Encouragement? Yep, encouragement. It's not adding any more protection to your photos but it is subtly reminding people that taking your image without permission is wrong and encouraging them to do the right thing by either not taking your image or by contacting you and asking your permission/requirements for usage. ]]>
Wired Magazine's 10 Favorite Photos of 2007tag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.17602007-12-29T14:08:19Z2007-12-29T14:28:12ZThe photo editors from Wired Magazine have chosen their favorite photos of 2007. They made sure to be clear that these are their favorite photos not necessarily the "best" photos (whatever that means). I'll be honest, I only really like,...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Wired Magazine have chosen their favorite photos of 2007. They made sure to be clear that these are their favorite photos not necessarily the "best" photos (whatever that means). I'll be honest, I only really like, either from an artistic or a technical standpoint, 3 out of their 10.
Wired Magazine's 10 Favorite Photos From 2007via Cecily]]>
Buy This Book: Tobacco Harvest: An Elegytag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.17512007-12-22T18:34:08Z2007-12-22T18:59:13ZI received an early Christmas gift last night, James Baker Hall's Tobacco Harvest An Elegy. The book's black and white photographs of a Kentucky tobacco harvest is strikingly timeless and familiar to me as though they could be images that...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
I received an early Christmas gift last night, James Baker Hall's Tobacco Harvest An Elegy. The book's black and white photographs of a Kentucky tobacco harvest is strikingly timeless and familiar to me as though they could be images that were taken directly from my own memory. If you weren't raised on a tobacco farm the images probably won't tug on your heartstrings like they do mine but they will give you an education and some insight into a way of life that is rapidly disappearing from America's rural landscape.
The book includes an essay by Wendell Berry (he's actually the subject of some of the photographs) that is as profound and brilliant as any of Berry's work. ]]>
Let me give you my work and all rights, for free, pleasetag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.17402007-12-20T15:04:49Z2007-12-20T15:07:56ZThough it's not even remotely the same situation I can't help but think of the Lane Hartwell situation when I see my local public radio station (which is my favorite radio station in the world by the way) asking for...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Lane Hartwell situation when I see my local public radio station (which is my favorite radio station in the world by the way) asking for photo submissions. There is absolutely no payment for these photos should they be used by the station, and oh year the station claims ownership to any photos submitted.
Read the whole story and my hopefully rational letter to the station about it]]>
The artist has the right to decidetag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.17292007-12-17T23:38:21Z2007-12-18T00:02:31ZIf you haven't been following the Lane Hartwell situation Derek Powazek has a really good wrap up of events up to this point. Lane has just released her statement about the situation and it has caused me to reaffirm my...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Derek Powazek has a really good wrap up of events up to this point.
Lane has just released her statement about the situation and it has caused me to reaffirm my complete support of her and her actions. Many people have said they're happy when others steal their works because it means the work is good enough to steal or they're happy when people steal their works and then create new works because hey new stuff is cool. That's great for those people. I encourage those people to release all of their works under the appropriate Creative Commons license and be happy and merry and bright with all the sharing and the stealing. I don't mean that sarcastically. If you don't mind your work being taken and re-used that's great but here's my issue: the creator, gets to choose if people can take and re-use his work. If someone posts his work on the internet and explicitly says that all rights are reserved then all rights are reserved by that artist. End of story. If the artist releases his work under a creative commons license that allows use or perhaps the artist even just says, basically, sometimes people steal my work but cool sometimes cool stuff comes out of that theft so I'm just going to say "ok take my stuff" that's fine, but each and every person creating original work, in my opinion, gets to make that decision.
And I think that saying "people on the internet are going to steal so suck it up" is bullshit. That's kind of like saying "people in the real world are going to commit armed robbery so suck it up." Yeah, some people on the internet steal stuff just like some people in the physical world steal stuff. That doesn't make it right in either instance. ]]>
Reuters Pictures of the Year 2007tag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.17242007-12-17T13:27:40Z2007-12-17T13:33:24ZIt's that time of year again. Reuters has released their Pictures of the Year 2007. There is some amazing work in this collection but at least a couple images I would describe as "disturbing" because of the gore or violence...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Pictures of the Year 2007.
There is some amazing work in this collection but at least a couple images I would describe as "disturbing" because of the gore or violence contained in them. So consider yourself warned if you're easily disturbed by violence and its aftereffects. ]]>
Flickr Uploadr 3.0 Releasedtag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.17162007-12-13T19:17:27Z2007-12-13T19:18:57ZFlickr has released the new version of their uploader for Mac and Windows. Version 3.) The all new version for Windows and Mac OS X makes it easy to add titles, tags and descriptions to photos, add them to sets...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
uploader for Mac and Windows. Version 3.)
The all new version for Windows and Mac OS X makes it easy to add titles, tags and descriptions to photos, add them to sets and adjust each photo’s privacy settings. Plus, for the first time ever, you can reorder your photos before uploading by simply dragging them into place!
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Evolving As A Photographer (or Why I Don't Care What Camera You're Using)tag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.17072007-12-12T18:50:22Z2007-12-12T18:52:43ZI’ve been carrying my point and shoot with me a lot lately instead of my DSLR. I shoot a lot of “what I’m eating” and quick location shots for Consuming Louisville and I find that for the shots I need...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Consuming Louisville and I find that for the shots I need to take my point and shoot works brilliantly. It does what I need it to do and it fits comfortably in my small bag. A year ago I packed my DSLR everywhere and I hardly ever picked my point and shoot up. I was still in the “gearhead phase” of my life as a photographer. Even if my point and shoot would have worked great in a situation, even if I didn’t need the fire power of my DSLR the DSLR was always what I reached for because you know, I’m a photographer, my DSLR is my baby and I’ve got to always use it. Or so I thought.
I’ve evolved and progressed further down my path as a photographer. I can now embrace the notion that it really is not the camera you use. The camera is just a tool. In some situations the small tool is all you need. But not only do I now use whichever camera will work for the job I also don’t care what camera you’re using. I can’t recall the last time I felt compelled to ask someone what specific camera she uses. Lenses? Yes, I love to chat about different lenses but Canon or Nikon? Who cares. 5D or Rebel XTi? So not important to me. It’s the work you’re producing that matters.
In my professional and documentary work naturally I still use my DSLR but that’s because it’s the right camera for the job, not because I feel the need to justify my existence as a photographer by pulling out the largest and most expensive camera I own. Those toy camera enthusiasts? They might be on to something. I think a toy camera might be my next gear purchase. ]]>
Zoe Strausstag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.16822007-12-09T15:02:10Z2007-12-09T15:38:09ZI've been trying to think of a way to describe photographer Zoe Strauss and her work. I've been failing but it turns out that's ok because a recent article in Heeb magazine did it for me. “They just aren’t pretty,”...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Zoe Strauss and her work. I've been failing but it turns out that's ok because a recent article in Heeb magazine did it for me.
“They just aren’t pretty,” my grandmother declared after walking in and quickly out of Zoe Strauss’ solo exhibition at Silverstein Photography this past summer. I was startled. I had spent the last month visiting the people and landscapes in this captivating exhibition, staring at candid portraits and hoping to learn more of their stories. But for all my fascination with Strauss’ subjects, my grandmother was correct—her photographs are not pretty. Rough, raw and often bleak, they expose forgotten and overlooked neighborhoods and residents, giving us a window into hidden worlds. They can often be disturbing or downright brutal, but it is each image’s honesty and quiet beauty that make Strauss’ work so poignant.
I said recently that right now I'm very interested in photography that is glossy and pretty and can take me out of the real world a little bit. The one exception to this is Zoe Strauss. I can't explain what it is about her work that appeals to me so much but it does. Check out Strauss's blog for updates on her work, shows and her recently being awarded a United States Artists Fellowship. ]]>
Store & Edit Photos Online with OpenBoxtag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.16812007-12-08T03:19:56Z2007-12-08T03:27:42ZI got an email today about Box.net's new OpenBox service which allows the editing of photos stored online. OpenBox allows you to "bring the power of web applications directly into your existing Box account". Translation? If you're storing and sharing...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Box.net's new OpenBox service which allows the editing of photos stored online.
OpenBox allows you to "bring the power of web applications directly into your existing Box account". Translation? If you're storing and sharing photos with Box.net you can right click on any photo in your Box.net account and edit the image with Picnik
What is Box.net?
Box.net is an online storage and sharing service that gives you access to your files from anywhere. With Box, you can access important documents from your desktop computer, laptop, or even mobile phone. Once you've uploaded your files to your online storage on Box, you can also share them with anyone, anytime — Box makes online web file sharing simple.
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Qoop Adds Photo Wrapping Paper to Their Lineuptag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.16752007-12-07T13:59:16Z2007-12-07T14:01:48ZOnline photo printing service Qoop has added photo wrapping paper to their list of products. The list was already quite long and included calendars, mugs, wooden puzzles, posters, greeting cards and more. Now you can wrap the photo mug you...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
Qoop has added photo wrapping paper to their list of products. The list was already quite long and included calendars, mugs, wooden puzzles, posters, greeting cards and more. Now you can wrap the photo mug you bought in the photo wrapping paper you made. How very meta. ]]>
American Photo Announces Images of the Yeartag:www.michellejones.net,2007:/exposure//13.16692007-12-06T23:07:33Z2007-12-06T23:18:11ZIt is with great pleasure and greater pride that we present the winning entries of our second annual American Photo Images of the Year Competition. Many photography contests are held around the world each year, but the Images of the...Michellehttp://www.consuminglouisville.com
It is with great pleasure and greater pride that we present the winning entries of our second annual American Photo Images of the Year Competition. Many photography contests are held around the world each year, but the Images of the Year Competition is unique in the breadth of photography it showcases, from photojournalism to fine art, from advertising work to student work, from nature photography to wedding photography. The competition represents in the strongest terms American Photo's commitment to finding and publishing the best photography in the world, from professional photographers and amateurs alike.
Winners include Annie Leibovitz in the Commercial Work category, Martin Schoeller in the Portraits/Wedding category and Michael Kamber in Photojournalism.
Complete winners list
I won't argue at all with the portrait or commercial winners. That Sopranos image? Classic. Clooney? Same thing. Is it wrong to admit that that is the kind of photography that appeals to me most right now? Naturally the photojournalism winner is stunning but I find I don't have the internal fortitude to experience much work like that these days.]]>
So while all the images in the book are good and interesting and while I encourage you to buy the book that's not what this post is about. This post is about one image in the book, a shot of Tom Cruise that was used for a Time Magazine cover story. The cover story is from 2002, well before any of Cruise's couch jumping or his railing against anti-depression medications. In other words, the image was taken well before any of us started thinking Tom Cruise is crazy. I imagine that when the magazine came out the image was perceived as one of a handsome, charismatic movie star. He looks pretty and has a satisfied grin in the image, like he's got the world on a string as the expression goes. The unfocused colors in the background call to mind stage lights as if to remind us that "this is a movie star" while the deep, deep stare would seem to indicate that viewers can and should trust this man.
Looking at the image this morning in the book store my immediate thought was "wow, he looks like a crazy, charismatic cult leader. He's very frightening." Obviously I'm looking at this image with the Cruise Scientology video still very fresh in my mind. The unfocused lights in the background make me think today of all the science fiction stuff the religion purportedly believes. That satisfied grin? It makes him appear to me like a smug manipulator. Like he knows exactly what to say and how to behave in any situation to get what he wants and that he finds himself quite superior to most everyone else.
All this is to note how much context, current events and individualism very much influence how an image is perceived. As a photographer you cannot always decide when or how your images are displayed but when you can control those things it's wise to put a great deal of time and thought into the details that will influence how your images are received. This includes putting them in context when appropriate, including text descriptions, making sure prints are appropriate sizes, etc. ]]>
