Archive | December, 2010

Reason #2,525 Why I love HDSLRs [Erik's Guest Post]

erik hecht_chase jarvis[Reminder: Since each of my staff are experts in their own right, you’ll be seeing more and more posts from these talented people in weeks and months to come. Today, Erik--our video guru--takes you on a ride down the HDdSLR road to extol yet another reason he loves this cool new format. (It also is a pretty fun recall of some fun behind-the-scenes moments from 2010.) Take it away Erik...]

My interest in becoming a filmmaker started back in high school, when the only way I knew how to create visual art was with a still camera. I went to film school to learn how to make my pictures move. Now 7 years later I find myself making films with a camera that’s a tenth the size of the cameras I learned on. And the first thing that popped into my head for my guest post was to talk about an aspect of my job that I quite like: DLSRs that shoot video.

I can talk to no end about the pros and cons of the format, but I’d much rather share one simple thing that makes them so special to me: the moment when I remember that the video camera in my hands is also a badass still camera.

Much of the sentiment in our blog here is that photographers are very fortunate to have amazing video capabilities built in to their cameras. I’m here to tell you that it goes both ways. As a filmmaker I couldn’t be more excited about the instant access I have to a quality still camera every day I show up to shoot video at work. To illustrate the point, here are some behind the scenes images that I’ve captured this year that were only made possible by the fact that my camera is such a strong switch hitter.

Chase & Director of Photography Chris Bell in Telluride

Chase & Director of Photography Chris Bell in Telluride.

10 more still photos from our 2010 adventures that were made possible because I was shooting a HDSLR after the jump… Continue Reading →

The 60 Second Portrait [Mike Horn]

As a springboard from all the portrait work I’ve done over the past three years, I, at some time during that process, became really attuned/enamored/moved by people’s faces and started experimenting with a new creative study. Internally we’re calling it “60″. In short, it’s really simple: I’m taking 60 second video portraits of people. No instruction, no direction, no coaching, nothing. Just the camera pointed at them for a minute.

Although the concept is simple, I’ve found the results to be pretty interesting. At a fundamental level, the human face says a lot, even without the person saying anything at all.

While I’ve been at this for a while, I thought it would be time to start sharing some of these portraits here on the blog. This chase jarvis 60 features world-renowned explorer Mike Horn. You may remember Mike from my Pangaea experience across the South China Sea with Panerai watches. [Lots of posts here, here, and here.] It was a life changing experience for me, and a good bit of it was getting to know Mike. Hopefully you’ll get to know him a little here as well.

Love to know your thoughts. Continue Reading →

Tips on Black & White Post Production [Scott's Guest Post]

Finished Image


Since each of my staff are experts in their own right, fielding a growing amount of questions from you fine folks–and it’s nice to get a change in perspective–you’ll be seeing more and more posts from these talented people in weeks and months to come. Today, Scott takes the reins and answers a popular question about making great black & white images, with a case study to show you how. Take it away Scotty…

The world is not black and white…but the Seattle 100 post production is.

Following up on the popular guest blog post I penned about the sand jumper image, I thought I’d use this platform to respond to the string of questions I’ve been getting about how we got the striking high contrast black and white aesthetic in the Seattle 100 project.

In the tradition of this blog, this is not going to be a tutorial, rather a theoretical discussion with some visual aids to help illustrate. Post production, like photography is a vast set of tools which give an artist infinite ways to arrive at a finished product. Do not get caught up in the tools, they’re just tools.

Glad that’s out of the way. Now, here’s the theory of the Seattle 100 post production… Continue Reading →

Chase Jarvis SHORTS: Don’t Forget to Have a Laugh [video]

So much of the discussion in the photography and advertising worlds online is about the serious side of things. Creative problems, budgets, timelines, travel, gear, etc. And, indeed, there’s a lot of serious aspects therein.

But in truth–especially when shooting on location–there’s a whole helluva a lot of fun that happens. And that fun is an important part of it that rarely comes across in all the photo/film industry ranting online.

It’s that slice of fun that’s happening in this video. Just some good old fashioned clowning around. In this clip, we’ve got a small crew of 10 or so shooting an advert atop the snowy mountains of Telluride, CO, just in time for the holidays. It’s at the end of the day, the last shot, and we’re all tired but jolly. The models, Kim and Mike, are dear friends of mine and are…er…well…struggling on their skis. We all somehow break into this weird schtick and … well… that’s about it, we’re all laughing. No punchline, no drama, just a reminder to have a some laughs along the way. Continue Reading →

Get Some: Tasty Holiday Tidings Like Wine & Chocolate

chase jarvis seattle 100 wine chocolate

Quick diversion from the normal banter here…

What goes well with the holidays and photo books? Wine and chocolate. Wine and chocolate?

Hopefully you’re aware of my latest photo book project, Seattle 100: Portrait of City (hardback 10×10″ 240 pages, 300 photographs – all my proceeds go to non-profit www.4culture.org). I’ve alluded to it in some posts before, but as a side show, we got together with a few friends and made some very tasty Seattle 100 wines and a Seattle 100 chocolate bar. Sorta nuts (A.D.D anyone?) but it turned out pretty darn swell.

Those two partners, Small Lot Wine Co-op and Theo Chocolate, have connected to create a holiday gift pack and have asked me to share it with you. If you dig such stuff, here’s what I know… Continue Reading →

To Want To Be Successful is Not Enough




To want. To be ambitious. To want to be successful is not enough. That’s just desire…


In this 90 second clip, the actor Kevin Spacey gets to the core of what it takes. Some amazingly simple, powerful words for us all to live by.

Happy Monday.

In Case You Missed it: Jeremy Cowart on Chase Jarvis LIVE [Rewatch]

If you missed the Jeremy Cowart episode of chasejarvisLIVE last week–bummer cause it was a really good one. LOTs of good info about the struggles involved in turning pro. Gear talk, starting your business, agents, stories of the lean times, amazing gigs and more. And here’s some good news: the above YouTube vid is a rewatch of that broadcast.

Jeremy is a great photographer and a uber-talented, hardworking and humble guy. And he’s very articulate. Watching/listening him share his experiences, wisdom, vision, etc is a great way to spend your time. Enjoy

creative LIVE HOLIDAY SPECIAL OFFER [THIS IS A SCORE!]

Friends. My team who run the day to day show over at creativeLIVE have put together an amazing deal for the holidays on photography and video “weekend workshops” from your favorite photography instructors – some of the best in the world: Vince Laforet, Zack Arias, Jasmine Star, David DuChemin, Jeremy Cowart and Tamara Lackey. Single courses are all offered $129 (instead of $149), but the really smokin deal is this: all 6 courses for $399 (that 55% off. whoa.).

They tell me that special offer ends soon. Please support this cool concept. If you’ve thought about buying a class or want an entire year of photography education for one amazing price, me thinks this is for you. More info is here at creativeLIVE.com.

PHOTO INDUSTRY: HELP US RAISE $5000 TODAY (FOR @CHARITYwater)

chase jarvis _ scott harrison _ charity waterFINAL UPDATE: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Together we raised $5000 — enough to build a fresh water well that will serve 250 families forever–and we did it in under 18 hours. Who makes this possible? YOU and http://www.charitywater.org. Please check them out and continue to give. Consider asking your friends and family to re-direct what they’d normally spend on your birthday this year and send it to charity: water. 100% (yes you read correctly) of your money goes directly to water projects…0% to administration and other peripheries. Again, many thanks! If you want to continue giving on this campaign, please do–I’ll leave the account open for donations until the end of the year – click here to see our donation page. My most humble gratitude to you and our community here.
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NEWEST UPDATE 5:30am Seattle time: We’re at 90% of our goal!! Just $450 short of building a well in Africa in one day with just a few hours left in this challenge. Please help – and please ask your network to help…we can’t do it without your support. Join the photo industry and donate here now. Thank you!
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UPDATE: We’ve upped our game and decided to raise enough to build a new fresh water well TODAY TODAY TODAY that will provide water for 250 families. We’re giving ourselves 24 hours to raise $5000. We’re at 20% and need your help to reach our goal. I’d love to go on the air this evening on chasejarvisLIVE and announce that we have succeed already… Please help.

Donate here now – every dollar helps: http://mycharitywater.org/chasejarvis
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TODAY’S Monday December 6th episode of chasejarvisLIVE is not to be missed. I’m not doing a live photo shoot and I’m not interviewing a photographer or a filmmaker. It’s bigger than that. In fact it’s bigger than photography and bigger than creativity. It transcends whatever it is that most of do on a day to day basis.

My guest is Scott Harrison and his story is about bringing clean water to 100 million people worldwide. His plan to do so is via one of the most dynamic and fast-growing non-profits in the world called charity: water.

My pal Michael Hebb (also my partner in Songs For Eating and Drinking) and I met Scott in Washington DC last spring. This man and his message rocked us, and we’re lucky enough to host him on our show just before his story airs on ABC’s 20/20 in ten days…seriously. Scott is an amazing creative mind and a dynamic and engaging speaker. He’s changing the world and his story will light a fire underneath you – whatever your passion might be. You’ll get to meet him on Monday if you tune in – even ask some questions live on the air via my twitter handle @chasejarvis or using #cjLIVE.

WHAT: You, Me, Hebb, Scott Harrison (and his 1.3 million twitter followers)
WHEN: Monday, December 6th at 6:30pm Pacific/9:30 Eastern USA
WHERE: point your browser to http://www.chasejarvis.com/live

From Fast Company magazine: “Scott Harrison hopes to turn charity: water into an epic brand that brings fresh water to 100 million people in need of something most of us take for granted. His journey is both inspiring and instructional for any entrepreneur.”

We’re trying to build a fresh water well in Africa with this one event in Seattle and online show. A well costs $5000. Please donate here – it’s tax deductible – anything is hugely appreciated.

Follow charity: water on Twitter.
Here’s a link about Scott and charity: water in the NYTimes.
Here’s a link to the lovely charity: water website.

See you Monday evening online.

Whatever Makes You Nervous

dash by martin gisborneWhenever Michael Jordan gets on the golf course and his friends ask the stakes of the game–how much money they’re betting against one another–rumor has it that his stock response is: “Whatever makes you nervous.”

That’s what you should bet on yourself, every time. Not what makes you comfortable, but what makes you nervous.

Your muscles get stronger by running, jumping, lifting weights, by stressing them out, by pushing them, not by sitting on the couch.

Mario Andretti said famously: “If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough”.

And the one-liners could go on and on… Point being that you’ve got to push your comfort level to grow. That goes for your photography, your filmmaking, your art, your vision, your business, your whatever.

You will not succeed if you do not take risks.

Continue Reading →

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