Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! As winter approaches it's important to be safe outside and it's helpful to know a few tips ahead of time.  On this episode I talk with Alex Soh, travel and landscape photographer from Singapore, about details we should be aware of and look for while shooting outside in the winter.  Just because it's cold out doesn't mean you shouldn't be out there shooting!

Share YOUR thoughts on photography in our Facebook group here. 

Join me on Instagram @brianmcguckin

Keep up with Alex on Instagram @alexsohphotography

What happens when a conservationist who loves frogs has a camera? He goes to Haiti to create change.  In this episode I talk with Robin Moore - photographer, conservationist, author, lover of frogs, and cofounder of Frame of Mind - an initiative empowering youth to connect with their natural and cultural world through photography and visual storytelling.

You can see his work at www.robindmoore.com and check out his book Frame of Mind Haiti here.

Join me on Instagram and share YOUR thoughts on photography in our Facebook group.

 

With new mirrorless cameras coming out weekly, infrared photography will become easier and easier to shoot.  In this episode I talk with Luka Gorjup - infrared photographer based out of Europe in Slovenia.  Luka explains the hows and whys to help you get started.  

Join us on the Thoughts On Photography Podcast group on Facebook to share YOUR thoughts.

Follow me on Instagram to see what I'm up to with all these camera bags!

In this podcast, I discuss the one year anniversary since I started Thoughts on Photography (October 15th actually), why I started the podcast, and some of my New Year resolutions for the podcast going forward for 2009.

In this podcast I pull together a list of my favorite photography books published in 2008. The book list includes:

Saul Leiter

Helen Levitt

America by Zoe Strauss

Cuba: Campo Adentro by Susan S. Bank

Planet Shanghai by Justin Guariglia

Fading Hutongs by Julio De Matos

Ideology in Paradise by Hiroshi Watanabe

Interior Exposure by Jessica Todd Harper

Domestic Vacations by Julie Blackmon

A Certain Alchemy by Keith Carter

Howard Zehr is known worldwide for his work in transforming our understanding of justice, particularly restorative justice, and is a faculty member at Eastern Mennonite University's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. He is also the General Editor of The Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding series of which The Little Book of Contemplative Photography is a part. Zehr is also an accomplished photographer (particularly in creating the documentary-style photographs for his books) and teaches workshops on contemplative photography which promote "mindfulness" in photography.

In this podcast I discuss the current resurgence in interest in the work of William Eggleston. An retrospective exhibition of Eggleston's work on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art along with a new book/catalog of the exhibition. Coincidentally, a new DVD documentary is also available as well. There has never been a better time to get to know the work Eggleston than now.

Ibarionex Perello is a California-based photographer, writer, and educator. Ibarionex is a contributing writer for Shutterbug Magazine, PC Photo, and Digital PhotoPro. He is co-founder of Alas Media, a studio dedicated to telling stories through a variety of media, and is the host of the Candid Frame, a podcast focused on interviews of photographers across the wide spectrum of the photographic world, and FotoBoy, a blog on photography.

Getting known as a fine art photographer, that is getting your work out into the photographic public and gaining some name and photographic recognition, is not easy and there isn't a magic solution. This podcast discusses some things you can do though to increase your exposure and help you build a career in fine art photography.

In this episode, I explore the philosophy, reasons and rationale behind sharing your photography both as a way of completing what I call the "cycle" of photography and as a way of living the photographic life.

This episode of the Focus Ring (a round-table discussion featuring podcasters from the Photocast Network) features Boris Nienke (nSonic), Rolf Steinort (Meet the Gimp), Chris Marquardt (Tips from the Top Floor), and Paul Giguere (Thoughts on Photography). In this episode, we discuss lots of new developments and announcements from Photokina 2008, some philisophical questions concerning the new video capabilities being introduced into DSLR cameras, and more. We also mention various products and web sites during the show which are listed below:

Schnellkapplung MiniConnect

Subjectiv Creative Lens System

Carl Zeiss Lens for Canon EOS

Lensbaby's New Line of Lens

Leica DLux-4 and G1 Cameras

Sigma DP2 Camera

Photokina 2008 Report

Meg Birnbaum is a photographer based in Massachusetts whose photographs evoke a certain modern sense of nostalgia. From her botanical photos to her scenes from county fairs to her almost fantastical world in the "Fly by Night" portfolio, Meg's work stimulates our imagination and our memories of events both lived and only dreamed of. Some photo reviews mentioned in this episode include:

FotoFest
Review Santa Fe
Photolucida

I recently picked up a book by Philippe Gross and S.I. Shapiro called "The Tao of Photography: Seeing Beyond Seeing." Ignoring the overused "Tao of Whatever" as a part of the title, I found this book to be excellent and the advice useful at all stages of your photography.

It's time for me to start the giveaway process for the camera bags I've been reviewing for ImprovePhotography.com  Check out the podcast to see how YOU can win a bag.  

"Photography Start" is one of the best ways to improve your photography!  Check it out and be sure to use the coupon code "THOUGHTS" to get $40 off through the month of September.  www.improvephotography.com/start

 

 

I recently attended a photo workshop at the Center for Photography at Woodstock in Woodstock, NY with Constantine Manos. Photo workshops can be fun, invigorating, and yes, expensive and even unsettling but I think they are one more thing we can do lead a photographic life.

Lorenzo is a New York City based street photographer who began using digital cameras just a few years ago. His use of the digital cameras as a part of his work flow has liberated him and has allows him to achieve new creative (and prolific heights) with his photography including several self-published books through Blurb.com. Lorenzo's intense passion and interest in photography helps him to lead a photographic life in the truest sense.

The German book publisher Steidl is in the process of releasing reprints of photography books by Robert Frank (some of which are in newly edited editions supervised by Frank himself). The titles include:

The Americans (50th Anniversary Edition)
Robert Frank - Peru
Robert Frank - Paris
Zero Mostel Reads a Book

Although I'm extremely happy to be re-exposed to Frank's work, of particular interest to me is the Zero Mostel book which I found to be a delight. All of these books are not only worth your attention but should be on your bookshelf. More books by Frank are promised in the coming months and year.

Although digital cameras have been with us for quite awhile and the quality of images produced with digital cameras can equal or are better than film-based cameras, the issue of film versus digital continues to permeate our photographic discussions. This podcast attempts to re-frame the issue as not one of quality but rather process (or how we like to work). I know this can still be a hot button issue but hopefully my thoughts add, in a constructive way, to the decision-making that some photographers still grapple with when contemplating film or digital in their photographic life.

In this podcast, photographer Aline Smithson and I have a conversation regarding her approach to photography, the creative process, and a wide range of topics related to the photographic life. You can see Aline's work and read more about her at her web site. Aline also maintains a blog called Lenscratch where she frequently discusses work by other photographers and news of interest to the fine art photographer.

Sometimes our photographic comfort zone (the typical subjects, tools, and places that we are most comfortable with in our photography) can be our biggest barrier to making creative leaps in our work. Finding the courage to occasionally leave your comfort zone behind can lead to the "next step" in your photographic life. This episode references the book "Art and Fear" by David Bayle and Ted Orland and is highly recommended.

In this podcast, photographer Gordon Stettinius and I have a conversation where we discuss Gordon's approach to photography, his creative process, and a certain philosophy of photography. You can see Gordon's work and read more about him at his web site.

During the course of the discussion, we also make mention of a web site called HolgaMods which is Holga camera modification and enhancement business run by Randy Smith. Since we mentioned it in the podcast, I just thought it would be good to make the link available here.

This podcast discusses some of the essays of Susan Sontag, which can be found in the collection "On Photography", and in particular the idea that a camera can be viewed as a weapon. A controversial thought to be sure but one that I hope elicits a conversation about how photographers view their tools and the role they play in the creative process.

In this podcast I discuss the 20X200 photography and fine art print sales site hosted by Jen Bekman of Jen Bekman Gallery in New York City. Their whole approach to limited edition sales of prints involves pricing three different size prints (small, medium, and large) in different quantities (200, 20, and 2 respectively) at varying prices ($20, $200, and $2,000 respectively). This could be a whole new approach to limited editions and pricing in general for most photographers that allows the average person the ability to purchase a photograph based on their budget and their motivation as a collector of photography.

In this podcast I discuss juried photo exhibitions, what they are, how they work, and the pros and cons of entering them. I also provide some helpful tips should this be something you wish to pursue for your own fine art photography. An excellent resource for finding out when and where various exhibition opportunities are and other great advice for marketing your fine art photography is Mary Virginia Swanson's book "Marketing Guidebook for Photographers." Ms. Swanson also maintains a blog that frequently list exhibition opportunities as well.

Although photojournalist have been doing it for years, there seems to be a growing interest lately in street photography.  So many questions arise: How do you do it tactfully?  What gear do you use?  How do you avoid looking like a "creeper" or "stalker?"  

In this episode, I talk with black and white street photographer Andre Wagner about what it's like to be a street photographer in New York and how he goes about capturing just the right moment in just the right way.

Follow Andre on Instagram @photodre

Follow me on Instagram @brianmcguckin to participate in a camera bag giveaway!

Don't forget to join the Thoughts On Photography Podcast group in Facebook to share YOUR thoughts on photography.

In this podcast I interview photographer Bill Vaccaro to discuss his photography, his creative process, and how he goes about living a photographic life. You can see Bill's work and read more about him at his web site.

Some other web sites and/or photographers mentioned on this show include:

Mark Tucker
Keith Carter
James Fee
Fan Ho
Rocky Schenck

In this podcast, I discuss how learning from other photographers and their work (sometimes through imitation) can be essential step towards learning how to see photography and contributes towards gaining inspiration for your own work and eventually your own vision.

In this episode, I discuss the use of photosharing web sites (i.e. Flickr) by fine art photographers as possible alternatives to creating and managing a traditional stand-alone web sites.

In this podcast, I try to address the question of what it means to "live a photographic life", a term I frequently use in my podcasts.

In this podcast I discuss the importance of model releases and I cover some important issues to remember when shooting in public. Below is a sample model release that you can copy and modify to suite your particular purpose. Also, here is a link to a document called "The Photographer's Right: Your Rights and Remedies when Stopped or Confronted for Photography" by Bert Krages, Attorney at Law.

[NOTE: This podcast and associated information are not meant to be actual legal advice. Please consult the local laws where ever you happen to be shooting photographs and/or seek professional legal advice.]

Model Release
[INSERT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER NAME, ADDRESS, AND OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION HERE]

   
I, _______________________________, grant [PHOTOGARHER NAME] all rights and permission to use the photographs taken of me on ____/____/____ at __________________________, _______ in any manner [PHOTOGARHER NAME] chooses.


___________________________________________
Signature                 Date: ____/____/____
                   
I, undersigned, being the parent of guardian of the minor whose name appears above, hereby consents to the forgoing condition and warrants that I have the authority to give such consent.


___________________________________________ Signature                 Date: ____/____/____

In this podcast, I discuss how essays about photography can help us gain insight into our own photography. Below are links to several essay collections that are mentioned throughout this episode:

Beauty in Photography: Essays in Defense of Traditional Values - Robert Adams

Why People Photograph - Robert Adams

Along Some Rivers - Robert Adams

The Mind's Eye: Writings on Photography and Photographers - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography - Roland Barthes

On Photography - Susan Sontag

Light Matters - Vicki Goldberg

Advice for Photographers - Al Weber

Truth and Photography: Notes on Looking and Photographing - Jerry Thompson

Between the Eyes: Essays on Photography and Politics - David Levi Strauss

Inside the Photograph - Peter Bunnell

The Education of a Photographer - Traub, Heller, and Bell

The Photography Reader - Liz Wells

25 Lessons I Have Learned (About Photography): The Art of Living - Lorenzo Dominguez

In this podcast I discuss the photographer's obsession with cameras, gadgets, and technology and I offer up some tips on breaking the chain of the "must upgrade" craze.

This episode of the Focus Ring (a round-table discussion featuring podcasters from the Photocast Network) features John Arnold (PhotoWalkthrough.com), Rolf Steinort (Meet the Gimp), Benoît Marchal (Déclencheur), and Paul Giguere (Thoughts on Photography). In this episode, we discuss how to find something to shoot (when you live in the least interesting place in the world), continuous versus strobe (or flash) lighting, getting your images to the wall, and composing and shooting in a square format with your digital SLR. We also mention various products and web sites during the show which are listed below:

http://citydailyphoto.com/portal/

http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/

http://www.lenswork.com

http://www.elinchrom.com/

http://www.alienbees.com/

http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=filters&itemnum=BWVF

http://www.photosenaveugle.fr/

http://www.aperture.org/store/books-detail.aspx?ID=210

http://www.herorat.org/

In this podcast I interview photographer Susan Burnstine to discuss her photography, her creative process, and how she goes about living a photographic life. You can see Susan's work and read more about her at her web site:

www.susanburnstine.com

In this podcast, I discuss the various debates that have occurred in photography since its early beginnings through present day and how these debates, while sometimes useful to move the entire field of photography forward to the next evolutionary level, can also stifle our creativity as photographers.

Black and white images are both classic and iconic.  In this episode I speak with award winning black and white photographer Jack Curran about his process for getting a classic shot.  You can read his article in Outdoor Photography here.  Be sure to check out the article on Improve Photography for 15 Tips For Stunning B&W Photography!

Want to join us in China?  Find out more here.

Join me on Instagram! @brianmcguckin

 

In this podcast, I discuss the various labels that we apply to ourselves (or are applied to us) as photographers (e.g. fine art photographer) and whether such labels are pretentious or practical.

This podcast focuses on a discussion of websites as a way of marketing and promoting your fine art photography. The podcast covers such issues as:

- identifying your audience
- setting goals for your website
- elements of a fine art website
- types of website solutions for the photographer

Links to sites mentioned in this podcast include:

VisualServer
Foliolink
Photobistro
Artspan
Flickr

In this podcast I discuss the artist statement. Why are they important, who the audiences are for them, the different types of statements possible, and how to write them.

Continuing a discussion started in Thoughts on Photography #16, which looked at developing a photographic style, I discuss an approach to selecting a subject to photograph.

In this podcast I define what a photographic style is and what it means to you as a photographer.

This podcast explores the concept of "flow." According to the definition on Wikipedia, flow is a mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing, characterized by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. In photography, flow can be used to help achieve a sense of heightened creativity with your photography.

As a reference for this podcast, here is a simple chart that explains the four levels of flow:

Level 1
Low Skill - Low Challenge = Typically breeds apathy

Level 2
Low Skill - High Challenge = Typically causes frustration and anxiety.

Level 3
High Skill - Low Challenge = Can bring about contentment and can build confidence but the challenge must increase to encourage true engagement.

Level 4
High Skill - High Challenge = Desired focused state where flow is attained,

In this podcast I discuss the pros and cons or printing large sized prints and how that relates to selling your work both to the collector and the average consumer.

In this podcast I discuss limited edition prints, what they are, who they benefit, and whether they are right for you. I also cover some of the details that you need to consider should you wish to sell your prints in limited editions.

In this podcast, I discuss how to arrive at a price for your photographic prints regardless of whether you sell your work in unlimited or limited editions. Below is a simple formula that I discuss in the podcast for determining the price:

Art Fair Pricing (unlimited)
Step 1: Determine the cost of your materials for a single print. For example:

- 13x19 paper
- inkjet print
- bag and board
- add framing costs if applicable

$10 for materials X 33% = $13.30

Step 2: Multiply the result from Step 1 by 3. This is the price you could charge for your print (and probably sell it). For example:

$13.30 X 3 = $39.90 (round up to $40)

Exhibition/Gallery Pricing (limited)
Step 1: Determine what level you are at as a fine art photographer with regards to your reputation and experience exhibiting and/or publishing and then multiply an hourly rate by 33%. For example:

Beginner - $100/hr X 33% = $133
Emerging - $200/hr X 33% =$266
Established - $300/hr X 33% = $399

Step 2: Multiply the result from Step 1 by 3. This is the price you could charge for your print (and probably sell it). For example:
 
$133 X 3 = $399 or $400 (exhibition)
$266 X 3 = $798 or $800
$399 X 3 = $1197 or $1200

In this podcast, I discuss ideas that help you remain engaged in your fine art photography when time doesn't permit to actually go out and make photographs.

Photography is making a difference in lives all around us!  In this episode I talk with Katie Taylor, from Film School Africa, about how photography is impacting people of all ages in South Africa.

Consider donating old gear, memory cards, bags, etc.  Purchase a donation through Amazon!  Find out how here.

Follow me on Instagram.

In this podcast I discuss alternative photographic processes and their rise and prominence in the fine art photography realm.

This podcasts discusses how to get started marketing your fine art photography. Below is a list of the major centers of photography in the United States mentioned in the podcast that provide juried exhibition opportunities:

Blue Sky Gallery
1231 NW Hoyt
Portland, Oregon, 97209
www.blueskygallery.org

Center
PO Box 2483
Santa Fe, NM 87504
www.visitcenter.org

Center for Creative Photography
University of Arizona
1030 North Olive Road
Tuscon, AZ 85721
www.creativephotography.org

Center for Photography at Woodstock
59 Tinker Street
Woodstock, NY 12498
www.cpw.org

Griffin Museum of Photography
67 Shore Road
Winchester, MA 01890
www.griffinmuseum.org

Houston Center for Photography
1441 W. Alabama
Houston, TX 77006
www.hcponline.org

The Light Factory
Spirit Square Suite 211
345 N College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
www.lightfactory.org

Light Work
316 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244
www.lightwork.org

Minnesota Center for Photography
165 13th Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
www.mncp.org

Photographic Center Northwest
900 Twelfth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
www.pcnw.org

Photographic Resource Center
832 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
www.bu.edu/prc/

Silver Eye Center for Photography
1015 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
www.silvereye.org

In this podcast, I discuss the importance of developing and implementing photographic projects as a way to sustain yourself as a fine art photographer. I also cover a project planning and implementation process that listeners may find useful.