indian hill imageworks

A Thanksgiving Message

by EveNSteve

Yes, it’s Thanksgiving 2007 which got me thinking about the last year and what I have to be thankful for (photographically speaking of course.)

1. Film is still being made (YEAH) and seems to be having something of a renaissance.
2. Only one new version of Photoshop to upgrade to in 07 ( I skipped it anyways).
3. No major upgrades required for hardware or software.
4. Most new papers sucked or were rebranded previous offerings so I saved on costly testing and re-testing.
5. Photo Expo Plus in NYC was so boring that very little caught my eye or pocket book (thank god!)
6. My Leica lenses are still king and the new Nikon and Canon offerings are so not for me…no thank you.
7. My printing platform (The d’Vinci Printer) will continue to rock in to 2008 and beyond so no thank you to Mr. Epson, Mr. Canon or Mrs. HP.

So when I stuff my pie hole on Turkey day with too much food and drink and congratulate my self on accomplishments both real and imaginary as a photographer and artist I can also thank the Photographic Industrial Complex for making 2007 one least inspiring technologically and one cheapest years I can remember…now that is something to be really thankful for!

Never Leave Home Without It!

by EveNSteve

Never leave home without…what? Your credit card? Driver licence? Breath mints?

No, your camera!

I am hereby declaring it a mortal sin to leave home without your camera…it should cause you great physical pain and perhaps even nausea to be without your most beloved tool for too long or to be separated by too great a distance.

Ok, a bit over the top perhaps but this is a serious topic and one that is often overlooked. I, for one, have been working on a kit that will have all necessary gear for most situations (3 lenses, 28mm, 50mm and 90mm), simple flash, camera body (Leica M7), misc accessories plus film (6-10 rolls) and carry in a weather proof bag that does not scream “steal me!”- but at the same time looks good and weighs less than seven pounds…anything over 10 and you will not carry it day in and day out- trust me I’ve tried.

My reasoning for this mandate is simple: without a camera you do not create work, period. Without a camera you as a photographer are worthless.

Now go get your camera…do it NOW! (How’s that for positive life changing motivation?)

The Open System

by EveNSteve

There’s lots of talk today online and in print about open camera system architecture…that is to say, a camera system that will accept different camera backs (medium and large format) and perhaps even lenses made by different manufacturers (see new Zeiss and Voigtlander offering for Nikon).

Very Cul!

Hasselblad of course screwed up this warm group hug and collective back rubbing with the introduction of the H3 which is a closed system (read: they want all your money) – definitely a lame move on their part.

The best (most flexible and cost effective) open system to date is: analog FILM married to a good scanner. Lots of options with a minimal investment and proven, time-tested technology to boot.

The best- or at least coolest- digital open system so far?…consider the Hy6 (you know, if you have $30,000.00+ just kicking around)!

I, for one, will stick with the film option.

Fake Film!

by EveNSteve

Just came across some new software that will give your digital files the look of many classic films with respect to color, contrast and yes, even grain.

I mean, what? What?

Want film? Want the film look? Here’s a crazy idea: shoot film!
Shoot- Scan- Print…it’s that easy. So much for the death of film. Imitation- even digital imitation- is the highest form of flattery… don’t ya know.

Focus: How To and Should You!

by EveNSteve

I, for one, feel that focus is highly over-rated. As a matter of fact- for almost 2 years I would argue that none of my images were “in focus” or at least not sharp. Did that make them less photographic or less of an Artwork?

No.

Focus is just one element of an image and not the most important by any means. I often find the bokeh (or the out-of-focus qualities) of an image much more engaging than an image with sharpness throughout.

All of this being said- how do you focus a camera to ensure the exact point or plan of focus that you have chosen is sharp? Easy! Just follow these 4 steps:

1. Turn off the F$#cking auto focus.
2. Turn your lens to the point of focus and then just beyond.
3. Now turn your lens back in the opposite direction and just past the point that appears sharp.
4. Now turn your lens back to the point of focus.

By focusing back and forth and with each pass closing in tighter and tighter to your chosen point of focus it allows you to see just exactly where the point of focus is and what it looks like just before and just after. This technique is really quite fast and will ensure the best possible focus…something which is really important when you are working with a fast lens say at f2.0 – there is no margin for error with a depth of field that shallow.

And one final tip…use good glass!

The Economy of Art

by EveNSteve

The Economy of Art? Why, Money! Fame. Money. More Money!!

NO.

The Economy of Art in this case refers to the amount of art you show- or rather- how much you don’t show. Look at it like this: why show 30 or 40 prints when 20 is enough, and probably represents a stronger, more concise body of work…30 is sure to confuse your viewer. Ever wonder why most galleries want to see only 20 images or fewer for review?

1. It represents the maximum amount of time they are willing to spend on reviewing your work for consideration.
2. It tells the gallery that you know how to edit your own work and thus have an idea about what your work is about.
3. It keeps their editing focused on a tight body of work and helps them decide- fairly quickly- if you suck or not.

So keep this in mind when you are submitting work to a gallery or assembling a show of your works…LESS IS MORE!

And taking my own advice… Nuff said.

Protect Your Work

by EveNSteve

By Stephen M. Schaub

Every photographer knows to make backup copies of their digital files and to always put a copyright notice with each use of one of their works but what most photographers don’t realize is that the fire safes they have their negatives and CD’s stored in will not protect them from a fire. That’s right, they will melt- as they were designed for protecting paper and not your negatives or CDs.

For example: I was just reading a story on line about a photographer in California whose house was tragically destroyed in the recent fires. When he returned to his home he was delighted to find his fire safe intact… only to open it and find the negatives and transparencies inside were all melted…30 years worth of work gone!

What can you do?

Simple, buy a Media Safe. These safes are specifically designed to protect items that will melt at a lower temperature than paper will burn. Yes I know they can be expensive and quite heavy but it is the only way to ensure your negatives, transparencies and CD/ DVD’s will survive a fire. Additionally, most companies who make media safes will also give you a new one if yours was damaged in a fire- nice.

So, what’s more expensive: losing 30 years worth of irreplaceable work? Or the cost of proper protection a good media safe provides? I have had one for the last 10 years and believe me, the peace of mind is worth every penny.

The Technology Energy Vampire

by EveNSteve

By Stephen M. Schaub

Technology is going to make life and work more efficient (read better) and allow us to have spare time to say smell the flowers and play with the kids, right?

No. Or at least not from where I stand.

Every time I engage in a new time-saving technological breakthrough that is going to save me time (ie: faster software, faster printer, faster scanner; faster being the operative word here) all of which will allow me to be more productive and get more done in a short time I forget something- something REALLY important…that newly created open/free time window which is now miraculously available. This newly-freed-up time does not have to become work time, after all- it can be just quality-of-life time. (This is a concept that Americans have a hard time with.) Isn’t new technology and all this auto-magic gizmos and gadgets core selling point that it will make you more efficient and ease the burden of work?…no, that’s just an advertising lie, it really just means that now you can do 20 things instead of 10 in a day, so now you end up working faster and YES harder.

There is even a darker side to all these technological advances…cue some scary music…enter The Technology-Energy Vampire. Ever sat down at the computer for a project that you estimate will take 1 hour only to realize that your family has been waiting for you for over 3 hours and you are still not done? How did this happen? Where did time go…abduction by aliens? No, remember how technology made things faster and more efficient, well it also raised expectations as to what could be done and just how fast you could do it. Technology is a seductive mistress (she’s a whore)- you’re working at the speed of thought in Photoshop humming away at a blistering pace when you catch a glimpse of your reflection fading in the glow of your monitor…STOP, RUN your being sucked in by the Technology Vampire!

OK, I having too much fun but you get my point…technology works for us and not us for it. Be realistic in your time estimation (your family will appreciate this) and remember that life does exist away from buttons and hard drives…go for a walk in the woods or just have a cup of coffee with friends.

For safety sake, I for one am going to line my workstation with garlic and religious iconography, and randomly hit the plug with my foot just to make sure I don’t become one of the living dead in cyberspace.