Category Archives: Blog

Instagram Rights Grab

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Looks like Instagram intends to update its TOS (terms of service) after the new year. Among the changes is the second entry under the “Rights” section, which in its current form states:

“Some or all of the Service may be supported by advertising revenue. To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you. If you are under the age of eighteen (18), or under any other applicable age of majority, you represent that at least one of your parents or legal guardians has also agreed to this provision (and the use of your name, likeness, username, and/or photos (along with any associated metadata)) on your behalf.”

The shorthand is this… They can sell your images for advertising. Sell it to whomever they want, for whatever price, without your consent and no compensation to you. Nice, eh?

Now, the backlash has been pretty swift and it’s been harsh. Everybody from the everyday take-a-photo-of-my-dinner user to some of the biggest names in the photography business have come down hard on Facebook (who recently bought Instagram). The overwhelming majority think it is an idiotic move on Instagram/Facebook’s part. Time magazine weighed in, as well.

Because of all this, I hold out hope they will rethink their position. I like playing around with Instagram. I enjoy the community I’ve fallen into there. But come January 16, 2013, if they allow the new TOS to go into effect with no changes, I will remove all my photos and delete my account.

 

Update from Instagram.

A friend in the legal business is still not thoroughly convinced. I will be watching and will reserve judgment a bit longer.

Photo made with Instagram.

Photo made with Instagram.

Friday Photo Tip: “Keep the Sun Over Your Shoulder.”

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This is a wonderful, timeless lesson. That high school photography teacher (who also happened to be the basketball coach) really knew his stuff.

I mean, really, think about it. With the sun behind you everything in front of you is so fully and flatly lit. You can see it all. No annoying shadows adding drama or depth. No highlights in the model’s hair. And with family portraits you get the added benefit of squinting eyes! What’s not to love?

And don’t even get me started on silhouettes or soft window light!

little girl with window light.

Window light #1

woman drinking water at national airport, whashington DC

Window light #2

The Hunter

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I followed the hunter around all morning. It was cold and wet. We’d walk for a short distance, stop, and then listen.  Hear nothing and start over. This went on. Walk. Stop. Listen. Walk. Stop. Listen.

Coming over a low rise the hunter held up his hand. I froze. He slowly and gracefully knelt. He rested his left elbow on his knee and raised the rifle’s scope to his eye. A brief moment. I could feel my heart beating.

The blast from the gun reverberated throughout my body. I’d never felt such a force in my life. It’s funny, I don’t remember the sound. Only how the shock wave felt.

We walked down the hill to where the deer lay. My hands trembled as I worked the camera. I laughed that nervous laugh you have after a major adrenaline rush. As he began field-dressing the deer, the hunter laughed, too. I could tell he was proud.

It took him about fifteen minutes to finish the job. All that was left was to get the carcass up the hill and back to the truck.

The long, damp morning was a success … for the hunter. Not so much the deer.

A hunter drags a white tail deer through the woods.

The hunter and his trophy.

Potomac River Gorge. The Book is Here!

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I’m very proud to present, after many years of documentation and exploration, the Potomac River Gorge book. A real, actual, physical book to sit comfortably on your couch with while gently paging through the imagery of one of the gems of our National Park Service.

You can click on the link below to see a preview. Then click on the second link to go to the Blurb Bookstore and pick one up for yourself… or for someone you love. Or both!

Many thanks and have a happy holiday season!

Cheers.

Click Refresh

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Nothing like a rejuvenating week on the northern California coast. After a long, crazy, stressful year, a little refresh was critical.

Weather was typical. Rain, wind, fog, sun, dry, wet, warm, chilly… pretty much the works. Photographically, every day… hell, every hour  a new, more dramatic scene was unveiled. Couldn’t ask for more.

Ready for 2013. Let’s go!

 

Stinson Beach surfer dude. Misty fog in the mountains.

Surfer dude, Stinson Beach, CA.

 

 

 

 

Friday Photo Tip: Watch the Feet!

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Here’s a quick and simple (yet, no less important!) tip: Don’t cut off their feet!

Nothing ruins an otherwise fine portrait more than cropped out feet. Everything else about it can be stellar. Lighting, composition, outfit, perfect smile… doesn’t matter. It is all ruined if they look like they’re standing on two peg legs. And really, it takes no time to just scan around the edges of your viewfinder and make sure everything is in there.

Cropping people halfway or three-quarters is fine. But if you’re going for a full portrait, go full  portrait. Don’t forget the feet.

Cheers.

Portrait of a model.

Cropped feet. Ugh!

 

Portrait of a model.

Un-cropped feet. Nice!

 

 

 

 

 

Just do it

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“If you want it, you get nothing. Just be receptive and it happens.” Henri Cartier-Bresson

I was just watching a documentary on the old man and this is the line that stood out. I have felt this for sure, but never tried to express it. And yes, it’s true. Going out with a preconceived idea of a photograph almost never works. No matter if I’m hiking in the wilds or strolling city streets.

It happens, most of the time, when I’m not looking for anything. Call it serendipity, call it luck. I call it keeping my eyes, mind and heart open. Being an intuitive observer. It’s almost unconscious. You feel it when it’s happening.  And you begin shooting. Really shooting… like mad. Because at that point there’s no other way to shoot. It is a kind of madness. An instinctive, visceral condition with little control. And man it feels good.

waitress in washington dc

iPhone photograph. Waitress in Washington DC tavern.

 

washington-national-cathedral

Washington National Cathedral visitor. Shot with iPhone.

And, by the way, Cartier-Bresson would love the iPhone.  (or any other smart phone with a good camera inside)

Friday Photo Tip: an object in motion…

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Sometimes blur is good. In fact, oftentimes blur is good. You can have a blurred subject and a sharp background or a sharp subject and blurred background. There are even times — if you’re feeling impressionistic — you may want everything in the frame blurred. Sometimes you want to stop the action, and sometimes you don’t.

Let’s say your young daughter and her friends are running all over the place having themselves a blast. This is the time to pick up the camera and start shooting. Choose one child at a time and pan with them as they run past, clicking the shutter all the while. Practice it with as many of the kids as possible. Every few kids, check the back of the camera to see how you’re doing. Next, set yourself up in one spot and without moving the camera take the shot as they run through the frame. It’s even cooler when you’ve got one of the kids standing still and another blurred in the same picture.

Too many people with cameras don’t give any consideration to the concept of motion. Commuters on a busy street, cars passing by, children playing games. Everybody is moving. So why is everyone in that box of family photos standing perfectly still? Even the family pet is posed! Photographs of people arm in arm with big smiles are great. Sure. But those people were moving right before that shot, and they began moving again right after it. Try catching them in the before and after.

Getting a good motion-blur shot isn’t easy. There will be a lot more misses than hits in the beginning, but keep at it.

The world is in constant motion. Show it.

2007 Potomac Whitewater Festival

A moderately slow shutter speed (1/40th sec) allowed the
kayaker to blur, but kept the video guy and the rest of the scene sharp.

White Ibis

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I was somewhere in the Florida Keys. It was mid-afternoon and hot as hell with harsh, ugly light. But the White Ibis is such a cool looking creature there was no way I could resist. It may appear as if it is looking for a good spot to dig up a few crustaceans for lunch, but in actuality it was just seeking shade. Which is what smart creatures normally do.

 

White Ibis, Florida Keys

White Ibis, Florida Keys.

 

Really smart creatures seek shade that also has beer!

photograph by Rachel Klein-Kircher