Archive | August, 2010

Which Photo Is Better: A or B ?

By on August 31, 2010

I was in Paris last week. Part work, but mostly fun. Eating, drinking, being merry, and of course, snapping photos my iPhone–as I do everyday–with no end goal beyond staying creatively engaged.

I was just now kicking through photos from the trip and stumbled on a couple of snapshots I thought were interesting for various reasons. I’ve posted stuff like this before and was really excited by the resulting discussion, so I figured I’d throw it out there again… These are of course just snapshots, but even snapshots have merit. AND these photos are VERY different from one another…. So, simply put, I thought I’d ask for your thoughts, which is better, A or B? And why?

Vote in the comments. Also love to know ‘why’ if you care to explain. 500 px wide images after the jump…

[ASIDE, since Paris reminds me of good food... if you like chasejarvisLIVE, I'm bringing in 2 special guests TOMORROW (Wednesday) at 12 noon pacific/3:00 eastern time. The goal is to combine a few of my passions and share them with you: photography, food, the internet. As such, join me tomorrow to welcome....

Guest #1 Penny DeLosSantos: Food/Lifestyle/Travel and National Geographic photographer Penny DeLosSantos (@pennydelosantos). Well talk about photo, food, and travel...photographing in the world's most suicide bombed markets in the middle east, travels to more than 40 countries, and the art of combining your passions into a career.

Guest #2 Barnaby Dorfman: Barnaby is a legendary tech guru turned entreprenuer who recently founded Foodista [@foodista] – the world’s leading online food encyclopedia/wiki and an overall amazing site. Combine food, tech, and storytelling and you get a thick slice of Barnaby. Hope to see you at http://www.chasejarvis.com/live tomorrow ….]

Now go vote on those photos below. Tell me what you think… Continue Reading →

Go Figure: New York Times Shooting Phantom Cameras

By on August 27, 2010

NYT tennis
You recall that fancy 1000 frames per second cinema camera called the Phantom that I love so much (that was the feature camera from this project)? Well they’ve got a new one out…the Phantom Flex and it shoots 1250 fps now at full 1080 HD.

Well the New York Times Magazine (that’s right, editorial….) is shooting motion these days. Renowned Director of Photography there, Kathy Ryan, hired photographer Dewey Nicks to shoot some tennis stars.

Although not “new”, this is beautiful stuff. And best of all, they are using this badass camera in the editorial context. Gotta love that. Gotta. Freakin. Loveit.

NYT doesn’t allow embeds of the vids, so check them out HERE.

Another screen shot after the jump… Continue Reading →

chasejarvisLIVE on Tuesday with Jasmine Star

By on August 23, 2010

jasmine star on chasejarvisLIVEPhotography has so many facets. The one I know the least about–while ironically probably employing the most photographers worldwide–is wedding photography.

It seems the whole photography industry is wild about this genre and its complete re-invention over the course of the last decade. So many people want to know more and–honestly–I need to get up to speed.

That’s why I’m happy to host wedding photographer phenom Jasmine Star TOMORROW on chasejarvisLIVE. In just 4 years Jasmine has become a winner of the “Top 10 Wedding Photographers Worldwide” by American Photo Magazine and has developed a reputation a leading wedding photo instructor.

In the spirit of all the other chasejarvisLIVE events, join us free and LIVE at http://www.chasejarvis.com/live for this casual conversation from my studio in Seattle. We’ll take your questions via twitter at hashtag #cjlive.

What: Jasmine Star
When: Tuesday, August 24 at 12:00 NOON (Seattle Time)
Where: http://www.chasejarvis.com/live

And if that’s not enough Jasmine Star for you, a reminder to register for her creativeLIVE.com class Continue Reading →

Scott’s Guest Post: Play-By-Play Post Production on This Popular Photo

By on August 19, 2010

[We have received hundreds of questions asking how this shot was post produced, so we thought it would be fun--and a good use of this blog as a central conversation point--to do a post about it. A play by play. So let's join our retouch guru Scott as he walks us through this popular shot of mine from the desert in Dubai....take it away, Scotty...]

It’s fair to say that a number of Chase’s images have earned the title of iconic. The images that fall into this designation generate a fair bit of discussion within our community. How was it done, where is the location, what were the camera settings, etc. A few of these iconic images have seen just enough time at my desk to make the post production a topic of conversation.
Continue Reading →

Is Inspiration Killing Creativity?

By on August 16, 2010

consumption-design-via vidget.com

“The reality is that it’s easier to be inspired than it is to create an original idea and we are hardwired to take the path of least resistance. It’s easier to jump onto a design inspiration gallery site than it is to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. It’s easier to follow a pattern than it is to test-drive new options. It’s easier to copy a style or idea that works than try something that might miss the mark or outright fail. Above all, it’s cheaper mentally for us to rally around what’s already been done and emulate it…”

The above excerpt is from a brilliant post by Owen over at Viget.com. Well worth the read. Do it.

Personally, I couldn’t agree more. How much time is the right amount to stroll thru galleries, troll creative sites, and watch online videos?

And what about you?
Are you too busy getting inspired by the work of others to create your own?
Do you read about the failures of others, so you don’t have to try?
Is the convenience of information actually reducing your willingness to struggle to make something worthwhile?
Continue Reading →

1970′s Polaroid – Still Got It After All These Years

By on August 6, 2010

Polaroid has still got it after all these years. As proof, and for some Friday fun, check out this 1970′s retro how-to video/advert/documentary. Still cool and amazingly poignant.

Polaroid – the original social network.
Snap a picture, show your friends = Create. Share Sustain.
Note the range, accessibility and the diversity.
Pretty impressive.

Reminder to check out the Impossible Project, plus one of my recent Polaroid snapshots after the jump. Continue Reading →

For the Love of Photography

By on August 4, 2010

chasejarvis_davewithgullsSeems like the more I listen, the more I hear people talking about the gear, the business of photography, the widgets. Let us not forget the simple love of photography.

I understand why there’s so much rhetoric in our industry about the business of photography and the gear and the gadgets. There is the common stereotype that most creative people aren’t good business people. There is fear. Gear is easier to talk about than vision. Exposures are exact, the camera dials have numbers. There is a ‘right’ answer to many of these questions.

But where is your love of pictures? Where are your actions that back this up?

Can you pick up a book of photographs and get lost in it?
Can you walk around with your iPhone or Android or your point and shoot or whatever and take 100 pictures knowing that they’ll never be for a client or a portfolio?
Do you love hunting for pictures?
Will you stay up late or get up early for pictures?
Do you sometimes ‘see’ life as a photograph?

It’s different for all of us, but when you can take a break from all the chatter, remind yourself–as often as you can–why you love photography.

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