WPPI Conference Not For Me

The glitz and glamor of Las Vegas does indeed appeal to me.  I've been there a few times - one or two on a photography shoot, a few for conferences - and have never had a bad experience.  So when I heard that a couple of old friends were attending this year's WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International), I seriously considered it. 

I actually became a member, as I believe that would have gotten me cheaper admission; plus issues to Rangefinder magazine.  But after adding the trip up and seeing what WPPI had to offer in the way of business seminars, I opted out. 

Being that my main career focus is commercial and advertising photography, not so much wedding and portrait, I decided that local Chicago-area business and marketing seminars put on by APA (Advertising Photographers of America), or ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) - both outstanding photography organizations - would be a better match.  Although my side "portrait" business, ChicagoDogPortraits.com, is off to a great start, despite my inept skills with HTML.

My Attempt at Photographing Sheep

While in Iceland, I was determined to get close enough to one of the numerous sheep roaming the countryside to curb the hunger of my full CMOS sensor.  But this, like many may think, is no easy task.  Even after chasing them for several yards, I was inept at capturing anything of significance.  Nothing better than a blurry butt shot.  Baaah!
 

adamdaniels.com

I Received A Gift Tonight

From time to time, I get a gift from out of nowhere.  Some extra synapses fire off in my skull causing a refraction of vision, where I begin to see things in a new light.  This evening, my birthday present to myself was a couple weeks early, and in the form of a creative epiphany.

click photo to enlarge

I'm not sure what I'm onto, or just plain "on", but it's something!  When I was little, I was never fond of abstract paintings and abstract photography, claiming that they were the so-called artist's poor attempt at a masterpiece.  My, how my love for the arts has grown.

I'm seeming lately to stray a bit, at least in this current phase of my life, from the super crisp, edgier photographs, to a softer-focused, merely suggested feel.  This only pertains to my personal body of work, mind you.  I continue to enjoy commercial food photography, lifestyle photography, and just about all the rest of 'em too!  I'm sure after I've had sufficient in this foray of modern hotel-like wall art, the two styles will begin to twist and morph into an unstoppable rebel force, extinguishing all that is bad on this earth: like murderers, and potholes, and Lean Pockets, and, and..  Oh no, another synapses thingy blew up. 

click photo to enlarge

"So, how can I join in on all the excitement in your world, Adam?" 

It's funny you should ask, Italic Type!  As I further this newly discovered "I-don't-know-where-this-is-going" abstract photography style, I encourage YOU to throw your glass out of focus at different f-stops and shutter speeds, and explore the world around you, a bit..well..differently!

So, go on, pick it up!  Grab your camera and shoot a couple frames of whatever is in front of you, out of focus.  Turn those creative valves on in yo' head, man!  I'm sure you've got a digital camera, right?  What have you got to lose?  Film?  NOT!  Make the shot, then send me a low-res image.  I'll post it right here for web wanderers to wonder what you were thinking when you took the shot!  And don't look at the date of this blog entry if it's a few months old and think that you're released from this simple, yet powerful suggested self-assignment.  Because you're not!

O--oh, you've got an excuse?  Not enough light in your room, is that it?  I've got a solution to your problem!  Simply roll your settings on over to "M", set your ISO to the highest it will go, and open your aperture to the lowest number.  With the amount of light coming off your computer monitor, you'll be able to capture something!  Shooting something, anything everyday will strengthen your artistic eye.  I speak from experience, and from old instructors' words.  They were right!  

adamdaniels.com

Found Objects - Random Act of Love

Tonight as I was walking to my bedroom, I couldn't help but photograph this organic form.  What does it evoke in you?  (click to enlarge)

 

Selective Focus Can Change Everything

I saw an image today in the park that I really wanted to capture, but upon capturing it, I was disappointed in what I saw on the screen.  I wanted to capture the holiday lights in the trees - the glow that I was seeing through my eyes, but as you can see, this photo doesn't really do it. 

I then racked my focus to blur the lights out and see if I could create the ambiance I was striving to achieve.  Voila!  A much more pleasing image, and all I did was change my focus.

adamdaniels.com

Another Use For A Light Stand

Microphone

Losing A Lens For THIS??

It was a snowy night in Chicago, so I headed out with my gear to capture some city shots.  The most interesting photo I got was the corner of this parking garage (click image to enlarge) - and actually not too interesting to me anymore as I'm already tired of looking at it.  Or maybe it could be the fact that my stopping to photograph this shot caused me to drop my camera.

Yes, gravity got a hold of it, and onto the nice hard cement it went.  Granted, it could have happened anywhere.  But I'm blaming this parking garage! 

But I was lucky!  How was I lucky?  Well for one, I had on my most inexpensive lens (Sigma 12-24mm) - albeit still pretty expensive.  For two, its cracking in half upon impact with the earth served as a cushion for my 1DS Mark 3, which seems to have taken no damage whatsoever.

I was quite calm throughout the whole process of picking up the pieces, however I did get bummed out a couple hours later.  But it's all insured, which means it's all good!

Happy New Year's Eve!