What a year it has been. Thanks so much for spending your precious time here. I’m grateful for the level of engagement from this community and I’m continually invigorated by the power of sharing stories, ideas, and information online. Winding down 2008, here’s a quick look back at some popular behind-the-scenes videos and other posts that had some interesting traction:
Chase Jarvis RAW: Advance Testing the Nikon D90
I was lucky to be the first photographer to work with the Nikon D90, the world’s first dSLR that captured both stills and HD video. This behind the scenes vid showed what that experience was like, kicked off an interesting discussion about where cameras are going, and inspired my pal Vince to make the hit “Reverie” once Canon’s video dSLR finally came home to roost.
Chase Jarvis RAW: Kung Fu (Featuring Superfad)
Highlighting how both stills and video come together in high-end advertising, this behind the scenes vid illustrated my working for superstar motion gurus Superfad to shoot stills that mimicked their beautifully created motion work.
Chase Jarvis TECH: Photo Shoot in 180 Seconds
This vid highlighted every aspect of a typical commercial advertising shoot, and features the lovely ladies of the PGA. From creative concept to production and delivery, this is a front to back, soup to nuts, photo shoot in 3 minutes.
Two more videos and a handful of other top posts from 2008 after the jump. Click the ‘continue reading’ link below…
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Chase Jarvis TECH: High Speed Photography
Unknown to most photographers, freezing ultra high speed action is more a function of strobe speed/duration than shutter speed. This video uses photo gear, knives, and exploding water balloons to show you how to do this on your own.
Chase Jarvis RAW: Seattle Flickr Roundup Redux
A followup to the first large scale meetup of its kind that we created in January, this second event from summer was the underground photography community on steroids. With help from the community, we organized a hundred aspiring photographers to have access to professional equipment, 25 models, 4 stylists, wardrobe, breakdance crews, S&M; mistresses, skate and bmx ramps and a 30,000 square foot studio. I was hung over the next day 
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Now some other popular non-video posts from 2008:
New Project: Songs for Eating and Drinking. An ongoing project I’ve co-created putting some of the world’s best known musicians (eg. Pearl Jam) at a dinner table with some of the hottest emerging indie bands (eg. The Saturday Knights). Stills, video, and audio of the evening to share with the world.
Red with Envy. Its no secret obsessed with still/video convergence. Here, camera maker RED announces a modular DSMC (digital stills and motion camera) to the world. Imagine 48 megapixel stills at 120 frames per second.
Secret to Success in Photography. Some people loved it because it helped outline a clear path for becoming an expert professional photographer, others hated it because they don’t see it the same way I do and want a short cut.
Will Work For Free? Launching a discussion about pro-bono and other unpaid work. This whole idea tore thru the photo blogosphere like a headless turkey round the barnyard.
Introducing My First Book: Stevens Pass. In mid October, I released a self published, limited edition hardback book highlighting a collection of skiing and snowboarding images from Stevens Pass. Printed 2500, just a handful remain if you’re at all looking. Thanks for buying ‘em all up.
Free Trip to ASMP Strictly Business. In an effort to highlight the importance of good business in photography, I held a contest to cover airfare, hotel, and/or entrance fees for a handful of photographers from around the world to be able to attend the ASMP Strictly Business conference in Chicago. More than 500 comments poured in in day or two, and the stories behind who wanted to go, who got to go and why, are chronicled therein – worth the read.
Chase Jarvis: ROOM WITHOUT A VIEW. A series of blog posts throughout the year that help illustrate what life on the road is like. Every so often I took a snapshot out my hotel window and readers from around the world chimed in to identify my exact location. Once the location was revealed, I posted a handful of behind the scenes snapshots from that location. People, you scared me with your accuracy. Nailed my location every time, sometimes down to the exact square foot or hotel room. More of this in 09.
Be My Editor. Nearly 250 commentors “edited” my work in less than 24 hours. Some interesting results, criticisms and discussions.
Thanks again for visiting. Prepare for the hangover, be safe, and we’ll all cross paths again in the new year.
Chase,
I always enjoy the videos. It’s always fun to see the behind the scenes, how did you do it stuff. Also, great work on the photographs.
Robert
Thank you, Chase for all you’ve given back to the community here. I can fairly say you’ve helped make me a better photographer. I’ll be lifting a Possum Hunt in your direction this eve (scored the only bottle of feijoa in San Diego!).
Cheers.
Gary
Loved the posts and discussion over the year Chase. Looking forward to what 2009 holds!
180 sec vid and Seattle Flickr vid were two of my favorites, glad they made the list!
Also wanted to say that I got your book for Christmas and it is BEAST. Awesome photos, and the book itself is really well made. Leaving this puppy out all year.
You have been a source of inspiration since the day I first visited the site. Your attitude toward business is something I try to mimic because I don’t see it as often as I should. You have certainly helped to shape how I think about business, and also how I think about people. Your posts are always thoughtful and interesting, and I thank you for your honest thoughts.
Happy New Year, Chase! Here’s to 2008!
_Nathanael
Hey Chase and Crew.
Thanks for a great year of inspiration and insight! I sure hope to get out to Seattle in 2009, I wouldn’t mind stopping by to see the studio!
Chase & the team,
Thanks for all of the blog posts, events, and photos that you guys have put together. They're all greatly inspirational. I'm looking forward to more next year.
Shelby
P.S. Keep up the iphone shots on facebook and twitter.
They're fun, even if some 'Anonymous' users think its "unprofessional".
Thank you for giving back to the photographic community the way you have. You are providing the tools that photographers need to improve, on whatever level they may be on. Just wanted to say thanks
Happy New Year mate, you have provided an invaluable insight into the phot industry. It is a hard fact for some to take onboard that there are no sortcuts. Failure is your last image.
Photography is in a state of flux, there are photographers that can produce the goods in camera. However there is a growing trend for photoshop fixes that enable amateurs to access the market.
I see the industry benefitting from that because more of the high end jobs will fall to people who are creative, dependable and can shoot in camera.
Looking at your year you have proved this.
I am looking forward to seeing what you get up to this year, and hopefully meet up.
Happy New Year to you and your crew.
Rich
PS I know where your trainers are (Strobist Flickr)
Hey Chase,
Thanks to all of you guys for the vids, the pics and the tips.
May god give you a very happy and very creative new year.
Regards.
I work in Paris… gonna try to see the studio next day at work.
Chase,
I so wanted to buy your book, but you don’t ship it to Russia ;(
Hi Chase,
have a great new year!
I want to ask you if you can tell me if that canyon I can see in the D90 video is in the Seattle sourroundings or not.. here and there I’m in Seattle and I would like to visit that place!
Thank you.
All the best, Fabrizio
Keep those videos coming! Always inspirational and keep the creative juices flowing. Good luck to you and your team in 2009!
-Mike B-
Hi Chase!
Great year on your blog and I hope next one is even better. Do you have a complete list of your camera and lightning gear? Is it even possible to do such a thing?
This morning I read Davids post about the Profoto Pro-8 and was instantly thinking of your set of gear.
Do you have a bunch of those?
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2009/01/profoto-pro-8-knows-you-like-it-fast.html
best regards
Robin from Sweden
PS. I would really like to see more vids about your work inside your awsome studio.
Great work Chase. Another thing that makes your videos even more appealing is the choice of the musics. I really discover great bands with them.
Vinaro
Chase, I’m glad i found your blog this year, Its been great to follow.
Gary.
I really enjoy your blog Chase! Thanks for sharing all your photography wisdom with everyone! D90 vid was my fav!
“This whole idea tore thru the photo blogosphere like a headless turkey round the barnyard.”
Now that’s an apt description of the reaction – and I’m sure David Hobby would approve of the verbiage!
Any hints as to what your own free project will be?
hi chase love your work,
i noticed in a lot of your videos your using macs, how do you find the screens on the laptop? do you ever use them for editing or just for on site location work. as im struggling with the color rendtion of my mac vs normal screens even after its been calibrated,
sorry for the queries
cheers
dan
@mardrom Russia added to the list. Sorry for the oversight!
@Dan I suppose for the most part we find the laptop screens alright. The office has a bunch of 30″s around, so the vast majority of any editing gets done on those. We’d never rely to heavily on the laptop screens. If we need to do finish work in the field, we will usually fly a 30″ in and connect it to the laptop.
thanks very much for that, thats what i thought, oh well some toys best be ordered
I love all the videos, I really learned alot from them and I enjoy watching the whole process…
chase jarvis, you my friend are an amazing man.. thank you for all of the brilliance you have put into this world over the past year.
First time here – love the blog and truly adore the pictures. Very nice work.
Thanks for such a great site.
Ben O.
Chase,
I am a big fan. As a photographer who is just starting out, I always find the behind the scenes stuff very interesting and inspirational.
Dude, Chase… I don’t know exactly how many times I watched this video post. You should absolutely do more of these. It shows just how pro you and your team are. It’s relaxing to know that your clients have nothing to worry about except excellent images created by a killer group of people!!!
Cheers, Keep it up.
Justin