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Post by rdywenur on Oct 6, 2006 4:10:52 GMT -7
Okay I have a question. When you are traveling do you take notes for your foto information. Some maybe obvious but then once I look at my fotos I only know I was in (insert city) and not exactly where. Or name of the place or other details of trip. What tips do you have for easy way of knowing where you have been and info about the place. When a stranger in town and can't read the language but being bussed around and just looking at everything.
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bujno
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Post by bujno on Oct 6, 2006 4:46:48 GMT -7
Scatts, I went through your Kraków album. You shoul definetely quit the managment job and start the art job Your ladies are charming and beutiful, Kraków through your lenses is 'simply the best' - la-la-la, the Rabbi impression photo is the award-winning Thank you for sharing!
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scatts
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Post by scatts on Oct 6, 2006 12:40:31 GMT -7
I had a reply typed, then we have a power outage and I lost it! Anyway, here we go again. All good photographers should carry a small notebook to record the details of their shots. That's why I don't have one! I simply remember what it is I was shooting and then turn to guidebooks or the internet when I get home and load the pictures up to the gallery. The church of Saints Peter & Paul in Krakow for example, I know the location but not the name so I just found a map of the old town and looked it up on there. Having a guidebook with me though would have stopped me from missing the stained glass window for the 5th time! If my memory was worse or if I was on a long trip in unfamiliar terriory I might take notes. The other thing is that taking notes slows us down. I really don't spend a lot of time on these photos, just shoot and go. Taking notes would spoil the trip in some ways. bujno - thanks! I have a rabbi impression from the rear (shows off the scull-cap much better) but my backside is not my best feature
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Post by leslie on Oct 6, 2006 13:35:15 GMT -7
Scatts I agree with you about notes to accompany photos that are for public consumption. They are essential in our context as many forum members. I am sure. look upon them as places they would like to see 'in the flesh' if they are in that area. As much information as possible helps so much. I know that I have intended to see a place for which a photo image has been provided and the notes on locality and identity have been essential in this quest. I must accept that when we are putting a lot of images on Webshots or the like, it becomes a chore when we have to put some notes with them, but we should always remember that most people look for these. As I have said previously, I admire very much your photos - more please! But think carefully if the idea of full-time photography has come or been put into your mind. The number of people 'out there' with similar aims is many and it is an extremely competitive market. I was a part-time professional photographer for about four years some time ago, but was only able to do that because I had a full-time, well paid job! Also, some of the romance goes out of taking photographs when you realise you HAVE to take that baby photo, not because you want to do so! So my advice is, and you are a good photographer, is 'keep up the day job! If you ant to test the market and yourself, try part-timing first. Every best wish Leslie
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Post by bescheid on Oct 6, 2006 15:23:43 GMT -7
scatts
Leslie has good solid advice, and i would suspect, from personal experience. Photography is only what it is, a tool for use of a medium. Only you know what is viable in your area of the known world.
Ok, some years back, I did fashion and illustrative photography. Wrote out a programme and used the photography as a graphic tool for a small company to put them on a television interview show. Used the same techniques for introductions into the realm of business/convention centre of a large city, as an introduction. I went under a company name that of {Phototec}.
These things are nothing to brag of, just an illustration of possibilities.
The fashion shows, were easy, my props were my red Austin Healy, my Rollie flex 35 mm SLR camera (state of art at that time and expensive, I did not have to pay for it} a membership to an exclusive yacht club {expensive and I did not pay for it}. Always i dressed very carefully in a suit or very nice sports cloths {with expensive label} It is all a show. No one touched the Healy or the equipment,or the body. yes, be surprised at the ladies that are sharks and deviants out there. When you are working, there is only one thing on your mind, period, and that is your work, period, no exceptions what so ever, until the work is done and you are paid.
The fashion show directors pay me a standing fee for photos they could use. The models all have to have a portfolio {at that time, the standing fee was US 300.00 I charged US 150.00+} So with each fashion show, I received the initial business of at least one modeling agency fee, at the very least, two or more request for individual fashion models portfolio up date, or heavens for bid, a complete portfolio {a professional model has their own trained routine, as a photographer, you simply just follow through with the camera} The problem was this though, many models were not trained or professional, they only presented this image to sell them selves by. And so, if you take a fee before hand, then find this out, you as the photographer are now a fashion model trainer,,yes. Time lost, time spent, and much more to do.
For my work, I required up front, at least 50% of my fee in cash or cashiers cheque. No exceptions. If you get stiffed,at the least, you have the 50% that was provided up front.
If you are working out doors {you must do a lead time of a season and half} the sun is high {very good for light balance} the air is darn cold with cold breeze off the see, the models are bitchy and cranky and cold with shiver marks on their skins. You must talk to them, warm them with a heater and blankets until the next set and keep them in trim. Other wise, you reputation, your business, your money, is turned to trash and you will never work in that town again. Also never never use some one elses model or back drop for a prop. The owner will wait intil you finish and then demand a fee, yes. These includeds boats, houses, autos, horses, dogs, cats and what ever, even the booth of a restautant. I know, I made that mistake on a very few occassions, was not thinking.
All of that, and it was a front for an assignment as I was a civil service employee. I would coordinate with the German consulate office for the weekly consulate parties {these are held at which ever established conservative hotel, usually mid week} and meet with usually the consulates [German] wife and who ever her guest were {usually older ladies of very nice personalties married to fellows that owned half the world, but, they were contacts that got through most any door}.
At these cocktail parties, the dangers were like swimming in shark infested waters. A slight off colour remark, spill a drink or out wear the French Consulate in dress code, and your in for a rough time. {The French Consulates are very irritating people, they think they are the worlds order of handsome, and it is always a mistake to out dress them}.
This was my experience on the photography road of wonders. Not a blasting success, just with memories now and wonderment of how I was chosen in the first place to play that role.
One thing though, you are never out of work for some strange reason. It is just a matter of rather you want to do that job and if it will pay for you to build your reputation, or drag it down.
Doing the wedding circut will ruin you as a professional. There are enough dummies out there that will do the weddings and what ever, and that is the best they will ever do.
Oh, also, to keep down over head expenses {yes I was required to keep an expense account} I kept a professional account at two photography processing companies. They charged me whole sale for colour correction/dodging/ processing/ and what ever. This was passed on as retail to the customer.
Just a pass on for what ever
Charles
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Post by rdywenur on Oct 6, 2006 17:24:53 GMT -7
Charles Charles Charles....what other secrets up your sleeve. Always a surprise..not. See I guessed it right with the hat in the beginning...secret agent 007 ;D You are right about the sharks out here as I traveled some similar circles in on of my life times and all that glamour is just a smoke screen that can go poof at any given moment.
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Post by bescheid on Oct 6, 2006 18:13:58 GMT -7
Charles Charles Charles....what other secrets up your sleeve. Always a surprise..not. See I guessed it right with the hat in the beginning...secret agent 007 ;D You are right about the sharks out here as I traveled some similar circles in on of my life times and all that glamour is just a smoke screen that can go poof at any given moment. Hmmm, Now Chris, it takes one to catch one {just jesting} I perceive there is a story here from your side, care to share? I would venture and with out risk, you have some interesting stories to share from your experiences in this line. It was a fun few months though. What would irritate me to great lengths was the parking jocks. My instructions were not to spin the tyres on the slick concrete decking and to beeee careful as the Healy was strong, it still could be dangerous. Well, they would wait until I left, and then I could hear the tyres squealing on the turns up the parking building. And then find cigarette butts on the floor carpeting {and I do not smoke} later. Charles
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scatts
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Post by scatts on Oct 7, 2006 0:12:00 GMT -7
Leslie, Charles, thanks for the tips but no, I have no illusion that I could make a living as a photographer. Nor would I wish to because it would spoil the enjoyment for me. My photography is almost entirely 'spontaneous' so the thought of having to go through all the rigamarole that Charles describes so well to create a few shots and get paid, frankly, not much, would drive me nuts!
If I were to flatter myself I'd say my photos are quite good amateur snaps, but nothing more than that. Fortunately, I only have to look at what other people can do to realise just how far down the table my work really is. The good thing is that I'm not doing it to win competitions or to get paid for it. I do it because I enjoy it and the fact that a few others also appreciate it makes it even better.
The best I could hope to achieve, although it is impossible for me to tell, is that my photography will develop a recognisable style, a 'voice'. That there is something in the way I see a picture that may not be unique but is me.
Chris. Like Charles, I'd love to hear some stories of your glamour days!
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Post by gardenmoma on Oct 10, 2006 21:28:39 GMT -7
I usually do not make notes during the day...because as some of the fellows mentioned, writing slows one down! I "make myself" sit down at night and go over the pictures and write what descriptions I can of each. It is very helpful when I have a "roommate" who also enjoys talking over the day. I also use maps and guidebooks when I return home and need to write up descriptions of the photos. Interestingly enough, I typed up little cards for each photo which I submitted to the "Artists for Animals" exhibit pets.webshots.com/album/554343632wgB with descriptions and dates. The organizers ended up making their own labels with just a one/two word title and my name...didn't seem to bother viewers any that I know of... GM
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scatts
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Post by scatts on Nov 2, 2006 1:39:22 GMT -7
I took a few photos of All Saints Day yesterday at Wolska cemetery. You can find them here before I file them in the right gallery www.pbase.com/scatts/inbox There are a few of the town as well as I killed time between soup and drugi danie. The weather was pretty bad in the morning, strong winds and rain. In the afternoon is was a little better with the sun shining between the rain clouds. We'll be visiting Powazki again one evening this week or at the weekend so I may get a few more.
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piwo
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Post by piwo on Nov 2, 2006 7:47:57 GMT -7
We'll be visiting Powazki again one evening this week or at the weekend so I may get a few more. I certainly hope you do. I love these photo's, and they are moving. I'd like to be in Poland during Christmas one year, Easter another.... Just to experience the traditions. All Saints Day is another I'd like to be present for as I am a bit of a "cemetery" explorer: helps reinforce that we're only a small part of ongoing process. I didn't want to be buried previously, thought cremated and ashes spread. Now I believe I'll have a marker.. Without the one I found of my great grandparents in Poland, I would have never experienced the joy of discovery, and the bond that ties us.
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bujno
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Post by bujno on Nov 4, 2006 14:45:53 GMT -7
Scatts, I just went through your 'Graveyards' gallery. All photos are great, but the ones entitled 'Three' and 'Faces in the crowd' are probably the best cementary photographs I have ever seen. You have managed to demonstrate much more than the atmosphere on that specific day and even I was able to see your idea! Thank you.
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Post by pieter on Nov 4, 2006 16:07:40 GMT -7
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scatts
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Post by scatts on Nov 5, 2006 3:01:36 GMT -7
pieter, I wish I were even half as good as him!. I can't see the Moscow picture from that link but anyway, I can imagine how it might look from having seen a number of Newton's images before.
I'm glad you like that one because it is one of my favourites but, until now, has not been mentioned by anyone else as being something they like. Thanks for taking the time to search through the galleries!
It always surprises me how everyone likes something slightly different. There are few shots that seem quite popular with a few people but not many.
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Post by leslie on Nov 5, 2006 4:31:22 GMT -7
Scatts "You can please some of the people, some of the time: you can please all of the people all of the time: but you cannot please all of the people all of the time". Leslie
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