Polarizing Images

We're back after missing the last episode (thanks for understanding, even though you didn't really have a choice) and tonight we're talking about the importance - or lack of - protecting your images. We all know that the only way to stop image theft is to not put your images on line. But let's face it - today almost every photographer has to rely on social media to promote themselves. Whether it's the fast-paced networks like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. or the more traditional website and online gallery, if we're not putting our images out there then we're never going to be found. But can we realistically prevent theft or misuse of our images? Is maintaining strict copyright over all of our pictures helping or hurting us? So, tonight we talk about the practical implications of protecting our pictures, whether Creative Commons is the answer (or part of the answer) and the difference between the person who goes out and intentionally steals images and those who just don't know better. As always, we really want your opinions and thoughts, so let us know. And, if you're shopping online anyway, please stop by the website (www.PolarizingImages.com) and use our affiliate links - it helps us offset the cost of the show. See you in two weeks!

Hey everyone, Due to some personal stuff happening in each of our lives, we just weren't able to create a show for today. But don't worry, we're still growing strong and eagerly awaiting our next show in two weeks. That topic will be about copyright and whether it's necessary to protect our images - all three of us have differing opinions on the subject so it will be a great show. See in you in two (and please support the show with our affiliate links!)

The guys discuss how important it is to know the history of photography. Is it important to know the history of our craft? As you listen to today's show, you'll realize that it depends on who you ask. A lot of different opinions  in this show. Is art a living thing? Does it matter if you never pay attention to other photographers? Can your art progress in a vacuum? That's the topic for today - whether or not it's important for our own photography to study the photographers who have come before us.   What do you think? Let us know! Oh, and please help us out by using our affiliate links on our page! kthxbye!

It's a short show today and will be for the next one or two episodes. We've been doing this for two and a half years now and we're feeling the need to revamp the show's format. So, for the next couple of episodes we're going to have one short topic until we find our new voice. Today, as we kick off our "introspection tour," our topic is the photographic sin. What sin (or sins) have you been guilty of in your photography? Also, what photographic sins are you just sick and tired of seeing other people make? For us, it runs the gamut from not shooting enough to Photoshop actions to selective coloring/desaturation. What do you think? Are we right or wrong? And, if you want to have some input into where we take the show, leave us a note! Oh, and if you're still doing this, stop. Just stop now.

Think about it. Are you jaded or hopeful? Do you find photography these days something to be excited about or something that hasn't yanked your crank for decades? Is modern photography something you love or was the last great photographer Ansel Adams? The question we asked ourselves tonight was. "when was the last time you were excited about photography?" And we mean really excited? After talking about it for a few minutes, all three of us came up with something that we find excited us and that was a hell of a relief. Let us know in the comments: what was the last thing that really excited you about photography? We're all curious here about your opinion!

Yeah, it finally happened: after two and a half years of the show, we ran into some audio issues. The sound gets a bit rough at times but today's content is great! So anyway, another camera store bites the bullet and this time it's Chicago-based Calumet; a national chain used by professional and amateur photographers for 75 years. In the past few years we've seen the Ritz/Wold camera stores close along with Helix and, now, Calumet. What's happening to the brick and mortar camera store? Are internet sales killing them off one-by-one? A lot of people are saying yes but we take a different approach. Different stores have closed for different reasons and maybe, just maybe, a simple explanation is too easy. Camera stores are still viable so what made these two stores take a different and tragically doomed path? How about the lack of internet sales? And to whom does the professional now turn for last minute rentals, repair, and supplies if the brick and mortar camera store is no longer viable? Or are they still viable? Oh, and we get pretty sidetracked at the beginning and we apologize to, well, pretty much everyone. Except the French - Rick didn't go off about them today. But be forewarned - in today's episode we swear, we drink, and we discuss... umm... 'habits'.

Art. It's a word that most of us like to use when describing our photography. How many of you refer to yourselves as 'art photographers'? Rob and Tony do as do countless others. Som with the word "art" in mind, here's a question for you: if, for whatever reason, you were no longer able to photograph, what type of art would you pursue? On today's show, I don't think you'll find many surprises. Tony delves into the world food and stuffing his meat (you gotta listen to understand) specifically. Things get pretty funny and creepy at this point. Rob talks about following his heart and love of the minimal aesthetic in art as it applies to Ikebana and Origami. Rick... yeah, we're not giving everything away in the show notes, so you have to listen for Rick's answer. Now it's all about sous-vide and chicken custard. Eww.

A Legacy of Images Legacy? We have a legacy? In tonight's show, we get off to a weird and dark start (lots of swearing, WARNING) with the introduction and pwncasting  (that's where we sucker some unsuspecting person who innocently logged into Skype into joining us) of "The Nuge"! Thanks man, that was fun. BTW, the rest of the pre-show banter was recorded and is at the end of the show. After that we settle into our normal routine and Tony asks us about what we think our legacy will be and, perhaps, what it already is. How about you? What do you see your photographic legacy being? Do you even think you'll have one? Let us know in the comments below what your thoughts are. We'd love to have the conversation! So, we're also dropping the "featured artist and photographer" segment. It's run its course and we found ourselves struggling to choose one each episode, so it's kind of hard to say you find someone's work "inspirational" when you only learned about them 20 minutes earlier. We hope you don't mind. Finally, we're looking for input. We're coming up on our three year anniversary (can you believe it) and the format needs to evolve more than just change. We're thinking of adding more chatter about our hobbies and what we're doing in the rest of our lives in addition. Don't worry, we'll still have a main topic for each show but the three of us aren't feeling like we're properly engaging you. We're open to new thoughts and ideas so please give us some feedback of the kinds of shows you have liked, the types of episodes you don't, and anything else you think would add to the show's experience. As always, thanks for listening and being a part of our world. Rob, Rick, and Tony. P.S. - Dear Nuge, never bring up the French!

What inspires you, I mean besides photography? Rounding out the who "seven questions" series we did, Tony thought we should tell more about ourselves and what inspires us. But, this time, talk about the non-photography related things that inspire our photography. Specifically, he wanted us to reveal one hobby, one book and one other thing (yeah, it is annoyingly vague). So we did. From cooking and brewing (of course) to graphic novels and a children's book, we're a pretty eclectic mix of guys. I think that's why it works so well. As Rob points out, everything we have done, everything we have experienced, everything we have learned to any given point in life can be seen in the art. So don't think being passionate about golfing doesn't inspire your creativity! And, for fuck's sake - show some passion, will you? Our Artist Only had one artist today - the Knoll brothers. Back in 1987, these guys created Photoshop. So, love the state of digital photography today or hate it, these two guys have played a role in how you look at a photography. What do you think? What inspires you? What else do you do?

Hey everyone, This is just a quick announcement - this Sunday (February 9th) the hybrid hero team over at HybridPHOTO.pro and I are launching a new series called Hybrid 101 with Robby D (that's me). You've heard me talk a lot on the show about hybrid photography and this new series is to introduce all photographers, regardless of previous skill or experience, to the photographic realm of hybrid photography. This Sunday we're actually holding two seminars. The first is Transitioning to Hybrid and the second one is Continuous Lighting: Hybrid Photography With a Single Light. Join us in person and pay $29 for both seminars (going forward, they'll be $29 each) which includes hands-on practice afterward and the Q&A sessions at Hausertown Studio: 319 North Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60612-2201 Or watch the free stream at HybridLIVE. pro Hybrid 101: TWO Programs. Free Live Stream or $20 View Later in HD from CrockettCo Technology on Vimeo.

Finally, Tony reveals the answer to the great question, what did he mean when he said Grammar Nazi knows a think or two about self-abuse? And Rob compliments the contrast. It's something we love... But, tonight, Rick asks us two questions: what do we love about the photography industry today and what do we hate about it? We pretty much agree on each other's answers but that doesn't mean it's a boring show. Today's Artists Tony, who can never seem to select a normal artist, instead wants to talk about a British documentary series that follows a bunch of kids over many years called the "Up Series". Doing one episode every seven years, the filmmakers started in 1969  and have followed the "kids" for over 40 years now. Rob chose a female fine art photographer, Lauren Bentley. Some absolutely beautiful work from a photographer who understands form and beauty. However, we do have a slight disagreement about the historical accuracy of the photographs. They're fantastic images (and there is some artistic nudity so, you know, be careful opening up her site at work or around tight asses). As we always say, let us know in the show notes what you think and whether you agree with us or not.

This show is pretty late in coming out and I (Rob) have a perfectly good reason - I kinda forgot to put it out. Anyway, great show tonight with a discussion on whether or not it's still relevant to ask the question, "did they use Photoshop?" I had a conversation on twitter with a group of photographers on Twitter and it started off with a conversation about images that are staged or posed and, of course, it moved on to post-production. Then one of the other guys tosses this out, "Its deciding where photography ends and Photoshop wizadry starts." To which I asked, " is that question still relevant?" Think about when you listen to music - do you care which microphone or production software was used in making the final recording? Do you care about the process that the production engineer used? Of course not. When you look at a sculpture, do you care which chisels and hammers the artist used? Other than a curiosity in how something was achieved, of course we don't care. We focus on the final piece. So why is it that photographers have such a stick up their (okay, our) asses about the process by which a piece of art/photography is created? Did they use Photoshop? And don't say that we don't - we really do! What do you think - if we are trying to produce art and are thinking/visualizing the final image when we capture it and/or manipulate it with software afterward, does it matter? No, it doesn't. So maybe it's time that we collectively pull our heads out of our butts and just appreciate good imagery for the art that it is. BTW, here are the guys I was speaking with - give them a follow on Twitter: @Cliffyboy13, @Basssn1, @photojack, @MelJD46, and @stevehuntphoto. And, as always, let us know what you think in the comments below! Tonight's Artists Easton Chang - an Australian photographer who shoots cars and has done some amazing Formula 1 stuff. Care to guess who chose him? Grant Achatz - A Chicago chef recently in the news for his ranting about children (babies) being in his restaurant. Regardless of your thoughts on this controversy, he's a culinary visionary. Watch his YouTube video:

It's the last rapid-question episode and, finally, it's Tony's turn to ask Rick and Rob. And, wow, look what happens when you actually spend time thinking about the questions. Well played, Tony, well played. We run a bit longer on this episode but we'll be back under an hour next time. But we really wanted to give today's questions and answers the respect and thought that they deserve. Here are the questions: Which one photography from history do you wish you had taken? Which event, since the invention of the camera, would you have loved to have photographed? Which friend or family member has had the biggest impact on your photography? Who is your favorite artist of all time - from any field other than photography? What is your most important personality trait when it comes to being a photographer? What is the one topic that will send you into a rage when it comes to photography? What have you gotten out of doing the podcast? Bonus question from Rob today: to date, what's been your favorite episode so far? So, from wanton mediocrity that sets Rob off, from choral music to acid rock, and a lot more bizarre stuff, listen to the final set of "what makes the guys tick?"   Our Artists Jessica Harrison proposes a multi-directional and pervasive model of skin as a space in which body and world mingle. Working with this moving space between artist/maker and viewer, she draws on the active body in both making and interpreting sculpture to unravel imaginative touch and proprioceptive sensation in sculptural practice. In this way, Harrison re-describes the body in sculpture through the skin, offering an alternative way of thinking about the body beyond a binary tradition of inside and outside. (from her web site) Pete Eckert is a photographer who, originally, was a carpenter until he lost his sight due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. Once blind, he turned to drawing and then photography. His is an amazing story and definitely worth reading. His works have been featured in Playboy Magazine as well as numerous galleries.

Well, it's time for another round of Q&A. This time it falls to Rick to ask Rob and Tony a whole series of questions from Social Media use to what inspires us. We go a bit long and Rick tossed out the three-minute rule a couple of times but he was in charge so that's allowed. If you didn't get to listen to the first set of questions, make sure you go back and listen to episode 57, too. It landed us in Stitcher Radio's "Top Photography Podcasts"! Here's what Rob and Tony gave answers to in this episode: Which social media outlet is having the greatest impact on photography? How would you describe your style of photography? What are your top three key factors that make a great photograph? What stifles your photographic vision? What inspires your photographic vision? Light or shadow? What was your first photograph (that wasn’t just a snapshot)? And this little experiment winds down with our next episode when it's Tony's turn to drag answers out of us! Our Artists We travel to the South of the US and back in time to one of the early masters in photography, E.J. Bellocg. Particularly, we look at his set Storyville. Storyville was the legal red-light in New Orleans and this portrait series highlights several prostitutes. It's a beautiful series that brings the women to life and gives them a place in history. For our other artists, Tony keeps us in the South and offers up the one and only, Louis Armstrong. Really, even if you're not into Jazz, Louis Armstrong is iconic and well-known. And loved. So? And, remember, we're looking for your answers to the questions as well. Leave a comment and tell us what you think! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM

Hey friends, We Have a Question! We're trying something new over the next few episodes and this starts it off. Instead of a "topic", we're each taking a turn and asking the other two a bunch of questions and giving each a maximum of three minutes per answer. So, in this episode, Rob has six questions that he asks Rick and Tony who, by the way, have no idea what the questions are. The questions run the gamut from personal opinion to industry predictions and the guys do a great job of thinking and answering on their feet. And, as you listen to the very beginning of the questions, you'll hear just how "in the dark" Rick and Tony are! Here's what Rick and Tony answer this episode: What are the three biggest mistakes you've made in the past with your photography? What are the three largest successes you've had in the past? If you could change one thing about your photography, what would it be? Where do you think photography will be in five years? What is the biggest thing to have happened in photography? Which artist is your biggest influence for your photography? Next episode will be Rick's turn to put Rob and Tony on the hot seat! Our Artists We're back with both a photographer and an artist to highlight. The photographer for this show is Sandy Skoglund - a modern day surrealist who, unlike her earlier peers, manages to keep the subject matter lighthearted and bright. We all really like her work and it may have something to do with… SQUIRREL! Search her site, you'll find the image we're talking about. Moving on, we look at Japanese painter Riusuke Fukahori. He paints goldfish but they're three-dimensional and painted on/with resin and inside of traditional Japanese containers. The results are breathtaking - make sure you watch the short video. So? Whaddya think? Were their answers good, bad, or irrelevant? Let us know in the comments, okay? Thanks for listening.