Isolation in the Modern Age: Green Bubbles

This might seem like a weird thing to blog about, but it was so traumatic for me that it needs to be done. This entire blog will be to tell you about my horrible experience switching to a Galaxy S9+ recently. The funny thing is, it’s a great phone, and it has a great camera (which is big reason why I switched) but man, I didn’t know how terrible it would be to go back to Android after being with Apple. Let me tell you why.

Warning: This next paragraph might be offensive to Mac users.

Photo Credit Adam Andres Pawlikiewicz

Let me start with a little backstory and some interesting facts you might not know. For starters, I work on PC, almost exclusively, in fact I am writing this on a PC (I know, I know, just take a deep breath and keep reading). My laptop is a PC. I have a MacBook Pro, but I don’t use it and it’s old. I actually bought a Mac out of peer pressure, because that’s what “creatives” use, but I realized quickly that it didn’t matter, and I could build a PC for way cheaper than a Mac. That being said I might have just lost a ton of readers, but oh well, that’s the long and short of it. I think Mac is great, but I’ve never had a problem with my PC, and with all the stuff I have in this PC it would cost me over $4k with Mac, I haven’t even hit $2k with all the upgrades.

OK, let’s get to the meat of this blog. A few years ago my wife and I decided to try iPhones, everyone said they were awesome, and so we decided to give it the ol’ college try. They were great, I have nothing against iPhone…they had been really reliable as far as things go. Recently though, I became a little tired of the lack of compatibility and flexability that iPhones have. In a brash moment of stupidity, I researched phones and bought a Samsung Galaxy S9+. Really cool, and as I said earlier the camera system was getting great reviews, which is what I use it for most. It seemed like a win win, but there was no winning involved, it was very much lose lose.

Frankly, getting the phone going was rough. I bought an unlocked phone, and the SIM card from my iPhone didn’t work (shocker). I ordered another SIM card, which actually took a while to get. Once I got the new SIM card I switched everything over and had the horrific realization that if someone had an iPhone and I texted them I would not get the return text. It was going to my iPhone, on iMessage. The solution? After calling the phone company and researching online, I was told to text everyone who had an iPhone and switch my phone to text message only. That’s where it started, sending out a shameful little green bubble to hundreds of people publicly proclaiming that I don’t have an iPhone anymore.

Photo Credit Adam Andres Pawlikiewicz

Great, text message problem solved. I was good to go! Wrong. After that came some really bad realizations. First of all, I send images to people all the time, and I have people send me images and videos regularly, especially BTS from my assistants. I also send my wife a lot of photos and get a lot of photos/videos from her. I couldn’t do any of that any more, I didn’t get most of the photos, I couldn’t send photos or videos to iPhones because they were to big, and videos from other people came through as tiny pixelated movies that you could barely see, if they came through at all. On a positive note, there is something called Samsung Share (which is like iMessage for Samsung) so you can share stuff with all your Samsung pals! Oh wait, I only know three people who have Android phones and only two of them are Samsung.

That was the beginning of the end for me, I completely took for granted how many people have iPhones and what that means. There is an actual end though. It happened when we realized my wife couldn’t have the kids send me voice messages, and as I was walking her through downloading something in place of FaceTime while I was trying to say good night to the kids on set. I was getting ready for two big trips and this was definitely the straw that broke the camels back.

This might sound dramatic, and frankly this whole blog post is just a giant 1st world problem rant about how a big baby had to buy another phone, but it was genuinely isolating. It was as if I couldn’t communicate with people, especially my family and other people in my industry. It was terrible, and never once in all of my research did I see it mentioned that switching to Android would make it so you really can’t communicate the same way.

You could think of this blog as a review for people thinking about switching from iPhone to Android, I mean, A LOT of people said they were thinking about it when I switched. I can tell you now with great certainty that you shouldn’t switch, not if you’ve been on iPhone for any length of time. I was literally discovering things almost every day that either wouldn’t work or need a new app to work so I could do seemingly normal things.

How does this story end? With me shamefully walking into the Apple store and buying another iPhone. Let me tell you, if you think new cars don’t hold their value (which they don’t) new phones are even worse. I sold my Samsung for $340, after using it for 2 months, I lost almost $400. On top of that, I had to spend almost $900 on the new iPhone…I’m not great at math, but it wasn’t good. My advice, just be happy with what you have: I have an iPhone and I’m happy with that.

See the light.

I have had a number of people ask me if I would be putting tutorials up on my page, and that is definitely in the works for 2016, but I think there is a fundamental problem with a lot of people trying to break into composite photography, and that's lighting. Sometimes I think our digital crazed culture has become so reliant on the term "fix it in post" that we forget the little things that make photography special.

When you look at some of the great photographers before us, like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adams, you realize that they saw light, it didn't just happen to them and it most certainly wasn't luck. You might be asking, what do two guys who shot mostly black and white film have to do with a digital composite photographer in 2015?! To that I would say, everything! I have had multiple people come to me and ask how I make my composite images look so real, and yes, I use Photoshop a lot, but Photoshop can only do so much. I think most of what makes composite images look real is lighting. More specifically being able to identify lighting and re-create it.

So, what can you do? How can you start to learn about lighting? Well the first thing you can do is go outside! Look at shadows, haze, highlights, soft light, hard light, night lights, natural light, artificial light, fog, etc. and study them. The more you know about what light looks like the better. That's the fun part, I am still obsessed with shadows and I take pictures of them all the time...it's a little weird. I can't stop it though, I think light is incredible and beautiful, I think at the heart of what we do is the fact that photographers love light.

What do you do after that? You learn how to make it. First, learn how to make light and shadows in a studio. This part can be harder if you don't have access to lights, but it most certainly can be done on a budget. This is a critical step if you want to be a composite photographer because your ability to take an object and put it seamlessly into a background is what will set you apart from the competition. There are a ton of tutorials that you can look at online, like kelbyone.com, that will teach you lighting, but make sure you don't just watch videos, go do it!

Finally, you need to learn how to make lighting and shadows in Photoshop. I think this is where things get a little backwards for a lot of people. I can't tell you how many people have said the know a ton about Photoshop and still can't make their images look right. Honestly, if they really do know a ton about Photoshop (I have my suspicions), it's probably the lighting. I think if you just try to learn Photoshop without learning lighting you are doing yourself a disservice, and it makes things very frustrating in the beginning. When you're ready though, there are a ton of websites and resources to help you learn about lighting in Photoshop (Phlearn, Lynda, Kelbyone, Youtube, etc). 

I might be crazy, but I think you need to know this stuff to be a professional photographer, not just have a nice camera. I mean, having a nice camera is great and all, but I would rather hire a photographer with a cheaper camera who knows what they're doing then one with a super expensive camera who doesn't have a clue.

I just recently went in the studio and did test lighting for a shoot that I am getting ready for and to learn more about lighting, because you never know it all! Below are some of the shots that I took from new lighting set ups I am working on, and a little bts video of me running around taking pictures of myself! Until next time, be awesome!

I am a husband, a dad, and a photographer.

I have often thought about starting a blog for dad's, as it feels like we don't talk about the fact that we are dad's and husbands before anything else. We get up and we go to work, of course, but we have wonderful wives behind us, and awesome little munchkins to squeeze when we get home. As a photographer I work weird hours, and long hours...and most of the photographers I know work very similar hours, it's kind of how things work. How do you balance that? How do you make sure that you don't miss the things that are way more important than pictures? Here's a couple ideas. This applies mostly to photography, but I think most dad's could apply at least one or two of these.

1.  You make your schedule, your schedule doesn't make you. When I started into full time photography my wife and I sat down and talked about what my schedule would look like. We knew it would be grueling, and wanted to make sure we put boundaries in place before it got too crazy. Something I learned when I was a Real Estate agent was the idea of blocking out time as family appt, you block it just like you would for a client, and you protect it just like you would for a client. After, all they are your most important client! I also try my hardest to set hours during the week, I know that I want to work from say 7-5 and then take the evening to be with my family. This can be really critical when work is crazy, it's so easy to work longer and longer but if you have a time in mind it is helpful.
2. PLAN! If you don't know what you're doing during the day you will waste huge amounts of time. I will make check lists of things that need to be accomplished, and I will look at it constantly throughout the day to make sure I am staying on course (Yes, writing this blog was on my list today!). I use Evernote as a way to stay on course and keep track of ideas that I come up with, I sync it to all of my devices so I can always access what I need to be doing and what ideas I have. I am not sponsored by Evernote, but I wouldn't be opposed to the idea (wink, wink). 
3. Your family should not suffer for your work. I work a lot, sometimes 70 hours in a week, and at this stage in life that is just going to happen. How do I do that and spend time with my family? I work when they are sleeping. I get up before they wake up and I work after they go to bed. This allows me keep long hours and not miss out on seeing them. This might sound crazy, and it is, but it's possible. If you don't drink coffee, you should, that's one of the key ingredients ;) I read an article a while back that said tired minds tend to be more creative...which means I must be super creative!
4. Take a day off. I'm not going to lie, this is the one I struggle with. If it wasn't for my wife I probably would work every day without stopping, but let me be the first to say it is not good or healthy to do that. Many studies have shown how good taking one day off to recover is, and I know from personal experience that this is true. Now for the hardest part, taking the day really off. Can you imagine a day where you don't think about work? You don't do work, you don't work on your social media, you don't think about an edit, and the list goes on and on. This is what I mean by a day off: you don't do anything related to work and you allow your mind and body to refresh outside of work. Like I said, I struggle with it, and most creatives do. As a quick aside, if you have an idea on your day off just write it down really quick and then leave it, that way you don't lose it and you can continue you day off. In our family we take Sunday's, but pick a day that works for you and do it...Take heart! It can be done! 
5. Integrate your family into your work. My kiddos are still pretty little, but they can still come and see me at the studio and they most certainly can have their pictures taken! One of the things that is awesome about being a photographer is that I can have moments during the day where my fam can come and say hello. I can also plan a photo shoot for my kiddos that I will use as a personal project. Most of my clients don't mind meeting my kids, and models are always excited to meet the little cuties :)

I know this is a little bit different from the normal blog, but it's something that has been really relevant for me and I don't feel like a ton of people talk about it. Plus it gives me the opportunity to share a personal project I did with my daughter recently! Go be awesome parents and awesome creatives!

Never. Stop. Creating.

There is something that keeps coming up among the creatives that I have around me, and I thought it was worth sharing with the 3 people that read this blog (not counting my mom).

The idea is this: don't stop creating work and new imagery (video, illustration, etc), even if no one is paying you. I know what you're thinking, make stuff for free?! Blaspheme! But I think you'd be surprised how much free work top tier photographers do, both for themselves and in collaboration with other artists. But why? What's the logic? It's simple, when you aren't getting paid and there is no client you create things that you WANT to create. There is no one telling you to change the lighting, to move this person or that, it's just you and your vision. I have found that is when the most dynamic work comes out, when it's for you. 

Recently I did a personal project I call "Tired people drinking coffee". It was probably the most fun I have had in the studio for quite sometime. What was different from my normal routine? I didn't make them composites, I focused on grass roots lighting and fun photoshop techniques. What inspired me do it? Two things, we just had our second baby, so I am exhausted, and I love coffee...especially after the second baby :) It was designed to be fun and that is exactly what it was. Funniest part about it is that the series has received more recognition than most of the commercial work I have been doing...ironic isn't it?

I will leave you with this idea: How do you ever expect to get the clients you want if you only make work for other people? Create a portfolio you love, work with people that inspire you, and most importantly...be awesome.

Re-Banding: Hydrogen Skyline

You've heard of re-branding before...well this is kind of like that. A little white ago I sat down with the band Hydrogen Skyline (www.hydrogenskyline.com) and talked to them about creating a new image for their band. I wanted to share in this blog what came from that collaboration and a little behind the scenes at some of the composite work I did.

Before I get to the images I wanted to take a second to talk about collaboration and a couple of things to help you get started!

1. Bring something to the table - We literally sat around a table at a coffee shop when talking about this project and everyone brought their ideas to share. Don't be the person in a collaboration to show up to the table empty handed, bring ideas, bring good juju, bring something!

2. Be Flexible - Don't bring ideas that are not flexible to the table and be willing to have ideas shot down, especially to meet the needs of the client. We all think our ideas are the best ideas, it is an unfortunate truth that a lot of times they aren't...but that's why you collaborate, so if your ideas suck someone can help make them un-suck.

3. Do your homework - The other day I sat down to have a meeting with a potential client and they hadn't even looked at my website, they had just heard I was good. Not only was it insulting to me, but it was a waste of time because they didn't know what I specialized in. Before I met with the band I had looked at other band album covers, seen what was popular in their genre, and come up with ideas that would work for both of us...they had done the same. Don't be too cool for research and homework, you're clients will appreciate it!

Alright, enough tips...let's look at some pictures! Hang on for the last one it will show an animation of the composite.

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Until next time, go collaborate with someone and BE AWESOME!

3 Things

When I first started photography I wasn't good...and I think that's the case with a lot of people.  However, there were a few things that really launched me in a different direction and I wanted to share those with you.

1. Shoot in RAW

If you're just getting started in photography you probably don't even know what I'm talking about, and no, it's not a vegan diet. RAW is a file format that your camera puts out instead of a JPEG. You can usually do both, but I would recommend getting used to just shooting RAW. If you aren't shooting in RAW now I would encourage you to learn not only what it is, but also how to work with them. In a nutshell RAW images contain a MASSIVE amount of information that JPEGS throw away, and it enables you to make larger changes later on.

I remember when my good friend Zak took me out to shoot about 7 years ago and he asked me if I shot in RAW, I looked at him like he was speaking a different language. It was on that day that I switched over and then learned what the heck he was talking about, it was the beginning of the journey for me.

2. Start Learning Lighting

It all started with a reflector. I think it was about 6 years or so ago that I bought my first reflector, and I was blown away! I thought most certainly that my images would be on the cover of Vogue any day (not even close!). Once I started getting more serious I bought an off-camera flash and have now used most lights on the market, from Profoto to Elinchrom and Broncolor to Alien Bees. I think lighting and use of lighting is one of the main things that separates the pro's from the amateurs. So start with a reflector, learn how to use it, and then the skies the limit!

3. Learn How to Edit Your Images

I use Photoshop, a lot. In fact I have even retouched for massive companies like Ariat, Tazo, Coca-Cola and more because I like it so much. Obviously you don't need to become a retoucher to edit your own photos, but I think a lot of people skip this step because cameras are digital now. If you are thinking about becoming a professional photographer you need to at least know the basics of editing photos, just like you would need to have known the basics of how to use a dark room back in the day.

If you're looking at all these things and feeling a little overwhelmed, there are lots of great resources to get you started. Places like Lynda.com, Phlearn.com, and Kelbyone.com are just a few that I've seen that offer great tutorials on everything from using your camera, lighting and handling files. I learned most of the foundations from Lynda.com, then I mixed that with school, a lot of terrible photos, books, and internships, that is how I became what I am today.

Finally I wanted to say this; when you're new it's ok to suck, but in order to grow past that you'll need to invest time to keep growing...then one day it will all click, and you'll get it! So check out this video for inspiration and then go be awesome!

I think it was in the time of spring 2012, when I came across David Shiyang Liu's lovely piece of work about Ira Glass. It was the most inspiring and motivating video I had ever seen in my life. I watched it over and over again, listened to Ira Glass' voice, and told myself, that I am not the only person who is constantly disappointed about the gap between one's taste and one's skills. Later in 2012, I decided to do my own filmed version of Ira's interview - using my own language to tell his message. It took me about a year from concept to upload. I made it for myself and for anybody who is in doubt about his/her creative career. I also think that Ira Glass' message isn't only limited to the creative industry. It can be applied to everyone who starts out in a new environment and is willing to improve. THANK YOU Ira Glass, whom I've never met in real life, but who had such a big influence on my development. Thank you for telling beginners what nobody else does. David Shiyang Liu for the video that inspired me to start the project. You all should watch his awesome kineticTypo-version here: http://vimeo.com/24715531 The people from current.tv who originally recorded the interview with Ira Glass. See the relevant part here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI23U7U2aUY The people from Magic Lantern who gave DSLR videography a new dimension (I chose this project to be a test run with the RAW plugin)! Steven Sasseville for painting the "taste" painting for me. Pedro Sousa for his advice and working his ass off at the "creative work" chalkboard. Wolfgang Kraus for letting me borrow his sound equipment. Kai Löhnert for working out on his birthday in the "fight" take. Wolfgang Hendrik Schnabel for giving me the museum-like atmosphere and his silhouette in the painting takes. Hermiyas Ötztürk for his hairy "good enough" hand. Orange Hive Studio for light equipment and location. Mima and Heinz Sax-Schmitz for the location of the "ambitions" take and finding me the "finish 1 story" typewriter. Joyce Chen (https://vimeo.com/clownmori), Soufiane Mabrouki (http://vimeo.com/user21466567), Damien Tsenkoff (https://www.behance.net/damtsnkff), Nikita Samutin (www.baselinedesign.ru) and Andrej Mikula (http://amara.org/en/profiles/profile/65015/) for taking the time and patience to create Chinese, Arabic, French, Russian and Slovak subtitles and dissolving language barriers to make even more people understand Ira's words. A SPECIAL THANK YOU Solveig Gold for being the most patient and supporting person in my life. She appears in a lot of scenes in this video. Jutta and Uwe Sax for several pieces of equipment and their support.

Why Landscapes are important.

I wanted to take a moment to talk about Landscape photography, which you will notice is not in my portfolio...sort of. I think one of the things you need in photography is an outlet, something you like to do that you may not end up making money off of, something that has no clients and no rules, that you do just for you. In my case that's Landscape Photography. When I go out to shoot landscapes I get to do whatever I want, and I don't have to think about what other people will want out of the photo I am taking. Sometimes people like them, and that's great, but that's not the point.

There is one more benefit to Landscape Photography that I wanted to mention for all of you photographers out there who want to do composite imagery...having landscapes in your library is VERY helpful! A lot of the time I don't actually need to go anywhere to shoot a background for an image, I already have it sitting on my computer.

Below are some examples of my landscapes...I highly recommend finding something you love to do that doesn't have anything to do with clients or work and implement it into your work flow. Until next time, be awesome!

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BTS Video

I was recently on set with the gentlemen, a very loose usage of the term :), from Sean Hagwell Studios and Contrast Creative, I thought you all might enjoy a behind the scenes look at what we do!

I shot this whole video on a D7000 and edited it in Premier...just in case you were wondering :) Also, the music is by one of my favorite artists, Odesza, You can find more of their music at www.odesza.com