911 Photography Project - An Artistic Tribute

[caption id="attachment_799" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="2010 View from Brooklyn"][/caption]The 10th anniversary of 911 is upon us and since 2006 I have be working on a photography art project each year specifically on September 11th. The project involves photographing the tip of Manhattan from both New Jersey City and  Brooklyn Heights.  This project deals with the use of a unique large format Speed Graphic camera from the 1940's that shoots 4 x 5 film.  Old school style. Yes the kind of camera you have to put a dark cloth over your head where the image is upside down and backwards in the back of the camera when you see it on a grainy piece of glass. The purpose of the project is one pay tribute to New York City and it's scarred skyline as well as document the transformation of a great city as it's skyline takes on a new shape.

This Sunday from the upper east side I will ride a mountain bike to two locations.  Packed in the bike's side saddle the antique 4 x 5 camera and I will venture to my first location at the Brooklyn Promenade.  I will arrive at the first location by 7:45am to set up this unique piece of photographic equipment.  At precisely 8:46am is when I expose the first shot.  Why 8:46am? That's when the first plane hit the North Tower. After that shot is complete I then re-pack and ride to New Jersey City.

It has been over the last 5 years that I've been doing this project.  It's interesting to see the progression of the city's skyline.  One year there was the waterfall installations another year a modern silver twisting building was completed a different year a warehouse has been torn down.

The project will complete when the Freedom Tower is finished.  Upon it's completion I plan to exhibit the complete body of work.
[caption id="attachment_800" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="2010 View from New Jersey City"][/caption]

Let There Be Light - Illuminating Photography

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="©2011 Dennis-Calvert "][/caption]
Most people when they think of photography a single flash is as high tech as they may get. Dennis Calvert takes photography to a whole new level with his various lighting elements and layering techniques. His work resembles imagery as if it comes from another world.

For me from day one photography has always sparked my curiosity. From the first polaroid that developed in front of my eyes to latest digital technology. Photography is like a puzzle and there are so many tools a visual artist can use to create the imagery that one desires.

With LYTRO "light field" technology about to launch it's latest digital break through. I can appreciate Dennis's use of pure light in a simplistic yet highly creative application.

LYTRO - Killing the Professional Photographer?

Photography is an ever evolving technology. From the onset of photography painters scoffed at photographers for the "ease" of replicating a scene. The debate back then was; is photography really an art form if all you do is push a button. Are you kidding me! Just dealing with the toxic film and processing is in itself an art form. Painters strived to replicate a scene as close to reality as possible, when photography did just that, ticking off a few people.

Fast forward to LYTRO's anticipated technological release, yet another reason for photography purists to grumble and moan. I too am a lover of traditional photography however; I embrace technological advancements and use them everyday in my business. Think about it, auto exposure, auto focus, auto white balance, imagine the first motor drive to advance film. LYTRO's 'light field' technology won't be the last invention.

My one concern is the ever growing saturation of newbie photographers. While technology advances the newbie's skill level has not, they have missed the actual backbone of photography. Technology is making it easier for the "newbie" to be perceived as a photographer thereby diminishing the value of the professional photographer. Professional photographers are masters at lighting, composition, in camera image solutions and production experience. Are professional photographers a dying breed?

I look forward to the LYTRO camera technology. It will only enhance the skills of all photographers, more so for the pros. As I stated in a previous post not focusing on focus allows the photographer to give their full attention on the composition and the moment. For the newbie of the newbies for them the term of "focus" will almost be extinct.

Not Focusing Is The Future? The Lytro Camera - DigitalRev.com.

Could Lytro Squeeze into the DSLR Market?

The much anticipated LYTRO camera has everyone talking, and the questions buzzing are; will LYTRO come out with it’s own DSLR. As in the article by TechRadar Shoot first, focus later camera explained. TechRadar gives us the usual information about the LYTRO camera, then poses the DSLR question toward the end of the article.

Could LYTRO squeeze into the DSLR market? For LYTRO that might not be the wisest move. I predict once the LYTRO technology is proven in the consumer market, LYTRO will then either license the technology or be bought outright. With the established big camera makers battling it out for market share, I believe, Nikon is perched to sling shot itself past Canon and the others. Since Canon has dominated the hybrid camera market for the last couple of years, Nikon may be the sleeping giant finally ready to wake up.

Newcastle Brown Ale: Shadow Art Installation

San Diego based agency Vitro created this shadow art installation using 3000 real-life Newcastle Brown Ale bottle caps. This video shows how the two New York shadow artists created this large scale public art piece. The 28 square foot shadow sculpture displays as an unusual looking billboard by day but transforms by night to reveal this striking image.

A brilliant use of light and shadow. Sometimes a simple effect is the best visual.

via Newcastle Brown Ale: Shadow Art Installation | Digital Buzz Blog.

London Riot's Cause Levi's to Hold UK Campaign

[caption id="attachment_578" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Is Anybody There?"][/caption]
Here's an idea -

With the marketing dollars / pounds that Levi's would have put into their recent campaign in London. They would get more "wear" out of their brand if Levi's put that money into helping to repair the communities affected by the riots. In an article by Advertising Age, Levi's traveled to 13 countries just to do research for their latest video. The amount of money that went into just the billable hours of research and travel for the ad campaign in it's self would be a nice start.

Levi's could even do a documentary style marketing piece on the "Rebuilding Of"...so much potential. It's would be a WIN WIN for Levi's and the London riot victims.

Imagine the press and word of mouth. This would far out way any print, outdoor or social media ad video marketing.

Lytro's First Fashion Shoot Falls Short

[caption id="attachment_551" align="aligncenter" width="538" caption="© Coco Rocha for Lytro"][/caption]
Lytro's first fashion shoot. Falls a bit short in concept and quality of the imagery.

The concept of select focus is brilliant! However in the fashion world 93.33%* of the time the focus is going to be on the model. Since I can already control my depth-of-field in camera, then I really have no need to refocus the image later.

With that said looking at the examples given from this test fashion shoot** I think it would have been best to use multiple models in the same shot. Allowing the viewer to focus on the subject of their choice. Or perhaps worked a prop product into the shot like a car or a handbag. Toggling between the model and product being in the foreground or background is a more effective concept. The power of telling a story in the image is just waiting to be created.

Ahhh!!! I have so many ideas for this camera and technology. Let me have a crack at this thing.

*Number was scientifically constructed by a team of braincells in the right hemisphere of my brain. Used for dramatization only.

**I also realize this was a test shoot and I'm sure Lytro / Coco was working under strict budgetary constraints.