Polarizing Images

Context is King Okay, for the record, Rick does not hate the French. He seems really intent on convincing us that he doesn't. Too few photographers look at their work in the context of the subject or client. What makes an image important to the client or viewer is the broader context and meaning of the photograph. For example, would the picture by Addie Adams of the young Vietnamese girl running down the road after her village was hit by napalm be as powerful or have such impact if not set in the story of the Viet Nam war? Topics today include: Really, Rick doesn't hate the French "Dry Ginger" is not the porn name of one of our hosts Context is key How arrogance and fear prevent a lot of photographers from reaching their potential Developing relationships with your subject or clients is critical Surreal photographs existed before Photoshop! Could the iPod have existed 20 years ago, even if they had the technology? No, really, Rick does not hate the French!   Our Artists This week's photographer is Jerry Uelsmann. In particular, we were struck by the image shown here - created in 1969 and done entirely in the darkroom. So, for the post-production haters who think Photoshop has created too many "artists", we'll point them to Jerry and say it was being done before Photoshop. Beautifully developed as a black and white image, his work straddles that line between realism and abstraction. Our other artist is Sir Jonathon Ives of Apple. Ives is the Senior Vice-President of Industrial Design at Apple and is responsible for some of Apple's most iconic interfaces. Rick, an Apple fan boy (an "Apple-lyte" as Rob calls him/them) since the 80s, waxes poetic about Ives' influence on design and suggests (correctly, Rob and Tony think) that the same design principles used by Ives' can be used in photography. "The word design is everything and nothing. The design and the product itself are inseparable" - Jon Ives.

Photography: You Ready to Go Pro? Holy shit, this sucker is one long show. Two freaking hours! Anyway, this show is based on a question that Rick and I (Rob) get on a regular basis. It usually goes something like "I've been shooting for a while and  I get lots of positive comments on my photography and now I'd like to start charging. Am I ready?" Ugh. It's a tough question. Hell, we don't mind answering it and for sure as shit's sake we've been there, too. Rick and I are certainly tainted by their own experience, having been through the school of hard knocks, and would love to tell everyone asking this question to hang tight for a bit. But we also know that they won't, so we try to talk about what we wish we had known and what we think every new photography professional needs to know before diving in. Here's a hint, it's a business so treat it like one! Ugh. Just as we were wrapping up the show, Rick asks an "innocent question" and then he and Tony start arguing for another damn half hour while I played Words with Friends. I think, dear listeners, that if you can make it through to the end of the show, you're going to tilt on either what Rick says or what Tony says! Our Artists Since wedding photography is often the attempted path into professional photography, we look at one of the best wedding photographers in the country, Chicago-based David Wittig. David's photography shows his depth of experience with the wedding niche, an ability to connect with clients, and an ability to shoot great photographs that are unique to his style. If you're thinking that wedding photography is an area you might want to get into, David Wittig is a photographer you need to be aware of. Tony, never wanting to do anything normal, chose Adrian Newey as this episode's artist. Newey designs Formula 1 race cars. They're pieces of beauty and he creates game-changing designs.

Why the Hell is Photoshop So Controversial? Photoshop: it's a tool that, for some incredibly stupid reason, seems to be controversial. Some people love it, others hate, but the smart people know that it is just that - a tool to achieve and end-result. But what got us going this week was a comment from someone on Facebook regarding a photograph they had seen, "…wow, is it real or PS?" C'mon, really? Just because a photograph has been through the Photoshop cycle, it ceases to be real? But that got us thinking - what does it really mean for a photograph to be "real"? Too many people confuse "real" with "realism". Are Picasso's works not "real" paintings because they don't depict realistic subjects? You'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who would take such a position. So why do we say that about photography and Photoshop? If I create a shallow depth of field through a lens choice that's okay but if I add blur in Photoshop, then it's not a real photograph? If I make a bride's teeth whiter than they really are or, more to the point, than they appear because we're under incandescent lighting, that's not a real photograph but if the bride had her teeth whitened by a dentist, that's okay? This whole concept of post-production, regardless of the tool that's used, has to stop. As long as the photographer/artist is trying to achieve an image that they see in their mind's eye, why the hell should we care - or judge - how it was achieved? And we're not even touching on the differences between using Photoshop to manually alter an image versus allowing a camera to do it outside of our control! So, to all of you who believe that Photoshop renders a photograph "fake", it's time to allow your photography and creative vision to mature a bit.   Artists What about photography before there was Photoshop? Today's photographer is Kansuke Yamamoto (1914-1987), an early surrealist photographer from Japan. His work included several pieces on film that, today, we would accomplish with Photoshop or other digital imaging tools but, as a film photographer, Yamamoto did his post-production in the darkroom. Are these "real" photographs? What happens when you let Tony choose the artist? You get a musician! Today we have Captain Beefheart. As long as we're talking about art being real without requiring realism, the good captain is actually an excellent choice for an artist who inspires. Especially in the realm of surrealism. Let's let Captain Beefheart have the last laugh today:

Photography? No, really, we do talk about it eventually! As usual, the guys take the long way around to getting on topic as we have our usual discussion about what we're drinking, why Rick will eventually play all seven dwarfs, whether Rob or Tony has the larger breasts and, well, you know by now… Oh, and thanks to Mr. Sadie Breeze for preventing brain damage. Photography, Dinosaurs, and When You Won't Change After the last episode's emotional tirade about whether or not the photography industry still needs a traditional sales force, things come down in this second part. Instead, we talk about whether the film shooters and even the dSLR users today are being left behind by the advances of technology. Is there still a place for traditional print portraits? Is there still room for the fine artists? How about the RAW vs JPG argument: is that argument going to be irrelevant in the near future? And what about those guys who insist on only selling prints and not providing CDs? That's an issue we need to deal with. Let's face it, photography is indeed changing and, as much as we want to believe differently, we don't have the actual answers about what will still be viable five years from now. But one thing is clear - if you're not going to be a visionary in photography then you'll end up a dinosaur and, historically, we now how that ends. Artists of the Fortnight Tony points us toward the amazing photography of Dennis Hopper. Sadly, Dennis is no longer with us but his work in photography remains with us. Rob believes that actors often make great photographers because they live their lives being creative. Regardless of why, Hopper himself has a body of work that is poignant and strong. Anybody who wants to get into the fine art side of portrait photography would do well to take a good long look at Dennis Hopper's work. For our artist, we look at the well-known Rembrandt. If there was ever a true Renaissance Man, Rembrandt was it. Schooled in math, science, art, literature and history, Rembrandt used that learning to develop a style of portraiture known for its sharpness and, of course, it's lighting. Don't forget - Our Photography Book Review Head on over to www.PolarizingImages.com now and take part in our book discussion, The Art of Photography!

You want disagreement and yelling? Today we look at the people who are in the business of selling photography and are dragging their feet when it comes to change. But don't worry, it's a self-correcting problem. We start off right on  target until Tony asks a seemingly innocent question - does a store really need a traditional, trained sales staff? Then shit gets serious and we think Rick may have started crying. He didn't: turns out he was just speaking into a muted mic. But before we get onto the topic about selling photography, we need to bitch and moan about why Australia just wants to fuck with you and how a shark got it right in the 1960's. Tony also thinks a sting ray got one right a few years ago. Too soon, Tony, too soon. Selling Photography - Do We Even Need To? We actually intended this to be more photography-related than it ended up being, but the reason for this topic is because a large and well-established camera store in Chicago is closing its doors and the guys think it was their inability – or unwillingness – to adapt to the photography industry today. It certainly wasn't the skill level or experience of their staff as that has always been top-notch. But the store died the death of a thousand cuts. An online presence that was virtually non-existent, major retailer for Nikon and Canon but where were the other manufacturers, a lack of related tools (no audio gear, very little video support, no computers or software…) So what is more important when selling photography: a sales team or an educational team? Tony vehemently argues for the education, Rick passionately defends sales staff with photography experience, and Rob finds himself leaning toward Camp Tony where he'd usually be the first to call bullshit! What are your thoughts? Does selling photography today require sales staff or educators? Leave us a comment on the site, call in your thoughts, or Tweet your reaction. Our Fortnight Artists We even manage to have a heated argument about our photographer, Yousef Karsh. You may not know his name, but you sure as hell know his work. Famous for his portrait of Churchill (seen here), he shot a lot of historically famous and significant people - many of those shots are still the iconic image for those people.But really, who amongst us today can have such access to famous, important, and polar opposite figures? Probably no one. Maybe an era really is over. We don't have "an" artist today. Rather, Tony introduces us to an artists' collective, Papunya Tula (go ahead, sing their name to Hakuna Matata, you know you want to). This is a group of Aboriginal artists whose art is as much a form of communication as it is visual beauty. Their work reminds Rob of the folding lines found in Origami. Oh yeah, Welcome you ignorant masses!

Visionaries - It's a word that evokes a sense of artistry, focus, vision (d'uh) and, apparently, confusion… Are There Visionaries in Photography? The guys get down to discussing the finer points of the role of visionaries in photography until they realize that theymay not be talking about the same thing. Oops. Still, the guys have a lively debate about whether or not we can recognize visionaries while they're actively creating art or if we can only recognize their influence after they're dead - or at the very least, after the influence is over. Kind of like a gambling streak in Vegas, right? You never know you're on a streak, you only ever knew that your were on a streak. And what about the tie, or bond, between visionaries and technology? Can technology create, or destroy, a person's vision? Or is technology truly just a tool that visionaries can use to bring their vision to life? Our Artists Our artists, on one hand, could not be different. But you can easily argue that they are very similar if we look at each one's influence in their respective worlds. Either way, they are truly visionaries, even if you hate their stuff. Robert Mapplethorpe - love him or hate him, you can't deny the importance that Mapplethorpe has had on the art world. Then, when you realize the time period in which he was most active, you can see see the boundaries that he had to cross and the limitations he had to break through. Definitely check out the documentary on him, Black White + Gray. Emily Carr is one of Canada's best known artists, was influenced by both modernism and post-impressionism and that is readily recognizable in her artwork. Her role as one of Canada's artistic visionaries is still maintained and celebrated today, particularly in the province of British Columbia where she was also influenced by the indigenous peoples of the West Coast.   P.S. - Rick and Tony are totally wrong: Rob is freaking FUNNY!

Elisha and Anne: are you available next week? Tony is out sick for this episode and it's left to Rick and Rob to record the show. Listen to what happens when two guys with attention deficit issues try to remain focused on a conversation. Witness for yourself Rob's amazing talent of taking 5 minutes to set up a 5 second answer or Rick giving an awesome answer that has nothing to do with the question. It's a rather personal show, with R² (that's shorthand for Rick and Rob) discussing their goals for 2013, their regrets of the past year, and their dream assignment. Of course, there is the usual oddball stuff liberally strewn throughout. BTW, since we forgot to do the opening segment, Rob was drinking whiskey and Rick was drinking his homebrew. So now you know. What else do we talk about? Well: The difference between allowing mistakes and accepting mistakes How the business of photography interferes with the art of photography Can a style atrophy if you're not careful? Buy stuff from our CafePress Store (it's a recurring theme) Will Rob continue with figure studies in 2013? Why photography can still be a viable profession How the opening sequence to our first episode was like Masterpiece Theatre… on quaaludes   There's neither a featured photographer nor artist this week but that will be back. Happy New Year and, before we forget again, it's absolutely critical that you never, ever… oh look, a puppy!

How Important is Networking? Networking? Really? Yeah, believe it or not, a lot of photographers (the three of us included) are firmly of the opinion that our art, skills, and techniques can only improve when we're willing to talk to other photographers. Whether we are giving/receiving critiques, asking/answering questions, or just shooting the shit with other people behind the lens, networking is where we grow. We've bitched (a lot, actually) about those shooters who keep everything to themselves and refuse to share their "secrets". To those guys (and, yeah, they're almost always guys) we say, "spoiler alert - your secrets are nothing more than cobbled-together tricks you read in widely available books." So get over yourselves. As Rob points out, this podcast only exists because Tony believes in networking with other photographers and Rob believes in the same. Think about some of the great guests we've had on the show: from Ted Forbes to Giulio Sciorio to Steven Chappell: all great photographers who also understand the importance of collaborating. I could go on, but you get the point! BTW, speaking of collaborating, don't forget to leave a comment or call our line and leave a message. Our Artists With two of the three guys being Trekkies, it's a good thing that the third (Rob) is writing the show notes - that's how we've avoided the obvious Star Trek references when we look at our highlighted photographer, Leonard Nimoy. Tony and Rick are both wrong when they guess that Rob's main attraction to Mr Nimoy's photography is the dance section. Nope, gotta check out Shekina. It's his interpretation of the feminine nature of God. With a fine art twist, of course! Like his work or not, Rob is completely entranced with his photography! Rick, keeping with his "Seriously, WTF?!" artist theme, chose the director David Lynch as the featured artist. From Twin Peaks to Blue Velvet, Lynch's non-traditional approach to film making is a real inspiration not only to the three guys but should be to all photographers (and artists) looking to work outside of that proverbial "box". Nimoy and Lynch, as artists, may be too famous for networking with but there are plenty of artists who are following their paths. We just have to find them and learn to trust their vision.

When You Find Yourself Lacking Inspiration At one time or another, every photographer deals with lacking inspiration. It's frustrating as hell, knowing that you want to shoot but you end up just sitting there trying to figure out what to shoot. But don't worry, you really aren't alone; we all go through it. It's just a matter of how you power through it, right? Right? Hmmm.... It's easy to be distracted and blame other things like spending too much time on Facebook, or shooting only for clients/income, etc. But, in truth, sometimes we just get burned out and we seek out those distractions. Fortunately, we don't leave it on such a negative thought - we also talk about how to get past it. Rob is starting to shoot new material again and has gotten deep into hybrid photography and that's seems to be the catalyst for finding inspiration again. Rick's finding inspiration by specifically not going out and shooting for clients. But, for both of them, allowing themselves to be open to new creative vision and direction has brought a certain spark and inspiration back. Just watch out for the "analysis paralysis"! Today's Artists Tony chose the artist and, as you can guess, he went way outside the box. But, if you can believe it, he doesn't choose a musician. Yeah, we're surprised, too! It's Sam Calagione. Who? Sam is the president and founder of Dogfish Head Brewery. All three of the guys are into home brewing (big surprise, right) and Dogfish Head provides plenty of inspiration not only for their home brewing but also on a higher creativity level. Sam, and Dogfish Head, don't allow themselves to be constrained by what's been done before or by thinking that experimental beers can't (and shouldn't) be done. By allowing the creative spirit to flow, Sam and his brewery produce some of the most exciting and creative beers today. And there's some huge lessons for all of us who are photographers in that approach. Rick chose Joel-Peter Witkin as the photographer. It's artistic and Witkin's work shows his level of inspiration but, as a warning, his work can be very disturbing and definitely not safe for work. His composition techniques are quite strong and his use of black and white really brings a timeless feeling to the images. His subject matter, though, is where we have to warn you. From his bio on the Acid Skull site (that's the site we've linked his name to): "His works carry the delicate tonality of a 19th-century ambrotype, showing morphed scenes with human body parts and deceased subjects with a strong satirical sentiment against vanity." Here's the link to his work on Acid Skull. And PLEASE, check out our Cafe Press Store to support the show and don't forget to leave a comment!

The New Digital Workflow Howdy! Today we welcome Giulio Sciorio, a well-known commercial photographer from Miami, to fill Rick's place while Rick is traveling and we chat about the changing nature of the digital workflow. New cameras coming out this year are mirrorless and provide a host of advantages. Today, we talk about how the digital workflow is changing and gives photographers more options and gives us time back in our day. That's never a bad thing! But a new digital workflow is not just about taking advantage of new cameras. Giulio brings up an amazing point that, today, there is a return to photo-realism and clients are moving away from the excessive post-production and heavy-handed editing of the previous few years. Rob and Tony completely agree and think that that is welcome change. So, when you combine the ability to take the JPG right out of the camera (Rob's use of RAW files in his digital workflow has dropped dramatically), the use of new lights that allow easy balancing, a new casualness in styling clients (also reducing the need for post-production tweaking), and a shift away from the heavy editing, you get a new digital workflow that is easier to follow and more accessible to everyone. What do you think? How has your digital workflow changed in the past couple of years? Our Artist Rob dropped the ball and it shows. We start off talking about another photographer documentary, Strand: Under the Darkcloth. But after talking about his best-known image of Wall Street (1915) but then the discussion kind of fizzles from there. Hey, after 31 episodes, it was bound to happen. Still, if you're not familiar with how important Paul Strand was (and still is) to photography in the United States, it's well worth your time to learn more about this early master. And, if you want to learn more about hybrid photography, check our Rob's new web site, Shoot Hybrid.

Do You Have Regrets About Your Photography? We regret nothing! That's a crock of shit, yes we do! Okay, maybe this isn't so much about regrets but, knowing what we do now about the photography industry, if we could go back 10 years, what would we do differently? A slow start as we have to do a debrief on Tony's trip and we have a hard time focusing (don't worry, it's just the booze talking) but we eventually get down to an excellent discussion about what we wish we could go back in time and what choices we made that we'd like to do over. We're typically in agreement that we all wish we had adopted a digital workflow a lot earlier. To sum it up, Rob wishes he had gotten into digital earlier, Tony wishes he had learned Photoshop earlier, and Rick wishes he had learned to drink Negronis a lot earlier. But we might be wrong about that. One thing for sure, Rick doesn't regret his lack of use of social media! How about you? If you could go back and change any choices you made, what would they be? Let us know! Our Artist of the Fortnight Tonight, Rick introduces us to Cindy Sherman, well known for her self-portraits. But don't dismiss that, she's an original and they are not the kind of self-portrait that you're likely thinking of! Some absolutely amazing work but to fully appreciate some of her pieces, you'll need to get used to her style first. Go ahead and do that, though, it's worth it. Tony (surprise, surprise) chooses another musical group. This time, he takes a band from Akron, OH, the Black Keys.

With all of the post-production being done on images these days, when does a photograph cease being a photograph? It's a serious question with serious ramifications depending on who you are. We're not saying that too much post-production can kill an image, but maybe it transforms it from a photograph into art! Well, we've gotten back on track after Rob accidentally released the live show a week early and the three dimwitted hosts of this show took two weeks to figure it out! So, we're back to our normal schedule (we think)! Tony and Rob had a great time in Vegas but it sure didn't help us with the scheduling of shows. In fact, Tony was semi-MIA for this show as he is still in Vegas and heads home to Aussie-land tomorrow (Thursday). Safe travels, Tony!! In Tony's absence, our old friend Steven "The Grammar Nazi" Chappell joins us again as our guest co-host. And that makes for a great opportunity to discuss the role of post-production. When does a photograph cease to be a photograph and can it still be art? Rob is a fine art photographer, Rick is a portraiture photographer, and Steven is a photo journalist. Each of of the three guys has a different viewpoint of when too much post-production has occurred and you can no longer call the image a photograph. As you can imagine, Rob has the most lenient point of view and Steven has a far more rigid one. (Viewpoint, that is!!) Nonetheless, we have a lively and good talk about it. Our photographer Today's photographer is Giulio Sciorio, a commercial photographer based out of Miami and can be found at Small Camera, Big Picture. Rob and Giulio have appeared as panelists on Will Crockett's Hybrid Hangout, including the latest video HH: Mirrorless Myths, True or False? One of the things that the guys immediately recognize in Giulio's work is his ability to connect with his subjects. Don't believe us? Check out the liveliness in the faces and eyes of his subjects!