Pro Techniques

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Pro Techniques
Pro's Choice: The Photography Of Jonathan Robert Willis: Simply Elegant Portraiture
Jack Neubart  |  Sep 20, 2011  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2011  | 
Jonathan Robert Willis knew where he was going at a young age. “In school, imagery always spoke to me louder than words and numbers. My interest in black-and-white photography was sparked during my high school years by music-industry portrait photographer Michael Wilson, a family friend. His work really resonated with me and I just fell in love with the idea of making pictures for a living and shooting the music that I listen to.” In fact, Willis switched to a public school “because that school had a decent darkroom that nobody was using. I knew I wanted to make photographs.” It was there that he taught himself black-and-white processing and printing. And in college, “I pretty much lived in the darkroom.” Fast forward and we now find Willis comfortably settled in his Cincinnati, Ohio-based studio, although we may find him shooting on location just as much, if not more. Willis’s creative team consists of first assistant Scott Meyer and digital retoucher Patrick White, with Laura McMurray serving as production assistant/studio manager.
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Pro Techniques
An Interview With Graham Nash: Photographs From The Recent Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ’n’ Roll Photographs At The George Eastman House, Rochester, NY
Suzanne Driscoll  |  Sep 26, 2011  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2011  | 
Is it possible to communicate through photography the energy as well as the quiet moments of rock ’n’ roll? These photos, selected by Graham Nash for the recent Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ’n’ Roll Photographs exhibit at the George Eastman House, answer with a resounding “yes!” Nash, of The Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash fame, started taking pictures long before he became famous as a musician, and few may be aware of his talents as a curator, collector, and photographer.
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Pro Techniques
On The Road: Drive, I Said: Backup Drive, That Is
Maynard Switzer  |  Aug 23, 2011  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2011  | 
I got a brand-new piece of gear shortly before I left in late February for a three-week trip to Vietnam. Not a camera, lens, or flash; it was more important than those. You see, I’m always looking for easier, lighter, faster, and more secure backup for my photos when I travel, and I’d heard for almost a year that this one, this new backup hard drive, was coming, and as luck or perfect timing would have it, it arrived two days before I left. (Because I’m always looking for something better, the camera store in New York City that I deal with, Foto Care, is on the lookout for anything that might interest me; they know I travel, and they’re always telling me about the latest and greatest that’s coming along.)
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Pro Techniques
Time And Again: Michael S. Miller’s Magical Moments
Barry Tanenbaum  |  Sep 01, 2011  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2011  | 
Outdoor and nature images are Michael’s specialty, and he’s been photographing for over 20 years in two of the world’s best locations for great outdoor imagery: Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. In fact, his images appear on posters sold by the National Park Service in their visitors centers. He also runs Visions Photographic Workshops, which regularly journeys to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.
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Pro Techniques
Pro's Choice: Jeff Kauck Captures The Essence Of Food: The Assignment Dictates The Lighting; The Location Dictates The Camera
Jack Neubart  |  Jul 18, 2011  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2011  | 
Chicago-based food photographer Jeff Kauck (www.jeffkauckphotography.com) developed his artistic eye through years of training as a watercolorist. While attending Central Academy of Commercial Art, in Cincinnati, where he also studied advertising, “I picked up my father’s camera—a twin-lens Rolleiflex—and really enjoyed playing with it. And to help support myself through art school, I did a lot of color printing for a wedding photographer.” But he soon realized that his time and talent were better spent on photography than painting. And Cincinnati proved to be the perfect location for a start-up food studio, since it was the home of Procter & Gamble, which became his first client, and a major one at that. But a larger market—Chicago—beckoned to him after 18 years, so he made the move and hasn’t looked back.
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Pro Techniques
Personal Project: Photographing America’s Railroads: Shutterbug Contributor Stan Trzoniec’s Passion Turns Into A New Book
Stan Trzoniec  |  Jul 20, 2011  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2011  | 
Brute horsepower, large diesel engines pulling thousands of tons of freight, heavy plumes of exhaust pouring from their stacks, sand being put down on the rails for traction, and the rumble of steel wheels passing by—all are part of the American railroad scene. For both the novice and advanced photographer, the challenge of capturing the drama of moving trains and finding suitable locations is all part of the excitement.
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Pro Techniques
Playing In The Band; Jim Richardson’s Graphic Novel
Barry Tanenbaum  |  Jul 29, 2011  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2011  | 
Years ago Dale Huncovsky, owner of the only grocery in Cuba, Kansas, had a heart bypass operation. Since then several men from town show up once a week at Dale’s store to unload the semi that brings the week’s supply of groceries. That’s how the personal and the practical play out in Cuba.
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Pro Techniques
30 Days In Chugchilán: Life In A Small Village
Alicia Fox  |  Aug 01, 2011  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2011  | 
Travel and photography are two intertwined subjects for me. Ever since I first had the freedom to travel, at age 18, I have been exploring the world, absorbing and photographing the unique cultures I encounter. I have developed a love for environmental portraits. In this style of photography I can capture not only the character of a person, but also the world in which they live.
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Pro Techniques
Up In The Air: An Aerial Photographer Shares His Craft
Jay Miller  |  Aug 04, 2011  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2011  | 
Photographing airplanes and other flying machines is not something one routinely finds on a list of preferred occupations. It is in fact one of the more esoteric slices of the professional photographer’s pie. Not surprisingly, aviation photography is a demanding and potentially dangerous occupation. It requires a high level of arcane expertise in a very specialized subject area. Understandably, there is little room for error. Hanging out of flying machines with a camera in your hands is not a run-of-the-mill photo assignment.
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Pro Techniques
On The Road; Always Be Prepared; The Rewards Of Research
Maynard Switzer  |  Jun 17, 2011  |  First Published: May 01, 2011  | 
Right from the start it sounded like it was going to be a challenge. In late summer last year I was hired by the Taiwan tourist bureau for a 10-day shoot to take pictures for a travel magazine advertorial. Since I’d never been to Taiwan before, and my usual way of working is to make all my own plans, schedules, and lists of places to shoot, I did some research as soon asI got the assignment. What I found wasn’t promising.
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Pro Techniques
Street Level; Jon Ortner’s Tale Of Two Cities
Barry Tanenbaum  |  Jun 23, 2011  |  First Published: May 01, 2011  | 
Well, it’s really only one city—New York—but the assignment called for Jon Ortner to capture images so different in spirit and approach that he might as well have been in two very different cities. There was not only a dual nature to the job itself but also something of a split personality to the building Jon was hired by developer J.D. Carlisle to photograph. Located between 29th and 30th Streets on Sixth Avenue, the 54-story structure in fact has two names and natures: from the street to the 25th floor it’s the Eventi Hotel; at the 26th floor it becomes the Beatrice and rental apartments.
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Pro Techniques
Keith Lanpher; Virginia Tourism “Live Passionately” Campaign
Lou Jacobs Jr.  |  Apr 01, 2011  | 

When the Virginia Tourism Corporation needed a series of illustrations, to help publicize tourism with imaginative style, photographer Keith Lanpher, based in Norfolk, was chosen for the job. This was a location project that called for seven days of shooting with numerous models as well as a passel of dogs and a large smoke machine.

Lanpher knew it would...

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Pro Techniques
Stock Strategies For Studio Photographers; An Interview With Bill Bachmann
Steve Bedell  |  Apr 01, 2011  | 

In today’s world, stock photos often sell for pennies, yet there are still photographers out there making a good living selling work for a good price. By talking with stock shooter Bill Bachmann, I found out that I, and most of my portrait/wedding brethren, have been missing the boat big time by not using our client images for stock images. According to Bachmann, we’re sitting on a gold mine and...

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Pro Techniques
Pro's Choice; Richard Izui’s Automotive Photography; Beyond The Ordinary
Jack Neubart  |  May 04, 2011  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2011  | 

Automotive photography involves more than cars, although these vehicles make up the bulk of this genre. Automotive can also mean motorcycles and practically any motorized conveyance that hits the road. Tackling these vehicles may appear overwhelming at first, but not to veteran automotive photographer Richard Izui.

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LightingPro Techniques
Off-Camera Flash; Create Directional Light With A Simple Setup
Steve Bedell  |  Mar 01, 2011  | 

Most of us know about making outdoor portraits using the small fill flash on our cameras. But these photos have a “look” that tells everyone they were “made with flash.” They have a flat, often harsh look to them. A more sophisticated technique that can be accessed with many new cameras is the use of off-camera flash; you can even use multiple units controlled directly from the camera. I use...

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