Thoughts on Photography

ToP #0090: My Podcast Resolutions for 2010

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:20:00 GMT

This past year has been a very busy and hectic one for both my personal life as well as my photographic life. In this podcast, I discuss the progress on my resolutions from last year for Thoughts on Photography and the new directions I plan to take the podcast going into 2010.

ToP #0089: Favorite Photo Books of 2009

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Here is a list of my favorite photo or photo-related books of 2009 (in order by author):

War is Only Half the Story Volume II - Aftermath Project (Kathryn Cook, Natela Grigalashvili, Tinka Dietz, Pep Bonet and Christine Fenzl)

Photowisdom: Master Photographers on their Art - Lewis Blackwell

To Walk in Beauty - Stacia Spragg-Braude

The Spirit & the Flesh - Debbie Fleming Caffery

Firefly: Photographs of Children - Keith Carter

Summer Heart - Thekla Ehling

Kutuuka - Gloria Baker Feinstein

Looking In: Robert Frank's The Americans (Expanded Edition) - Robert Frank and Sarah Greenough

Emmet Gowin: Photographs - Emmet Gowin

Three - Ed Kashi

Fun and Games - Lisa Kereszi

Memories of Myself - Danny Lyons

Asylum: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals - Christopher Payne

Surfland - Joni Sternbach

Violet Isle: A Duet of Photography from Cuba - Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb

ToP #0088: What's Stopping You Now?

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:16:00 GMT

In this podcast I talk about some of the ways in which we photographers can sometimes veer from the photographic life for one reason or another and I offer up some suggestions that have worked for me to get back on track with my photography.

ToP #0087: Interview with Eliza Lamb

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Eliza Lamb's most recent photo series explores the neighborhood of
Astoria, Queens in New York City and how people use their yards as a public display of their religious beliefs. Lamb was fascinated by the
willingness or need to share these beliefs so openly while also hiding their personality and nature at the same time.

ToP #0086: Interview with Lauren Semivan

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Lauren Semivan creates imagined events through the use of staged photographs. This approach gives her both the control necessary to tell a story while incorporating autobiographical elements into the narrative such as dreams, preoccupations, desires, anxieties, and the collective unconscious.

ToP #0085: Interview with Lisa Kereszi

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Lisa Kereszi's latest monograph "Fun and Games" explores places where some people might go to escape from the boredom and challenges of everyday life. Boardwalks, dance halls, the great outdoors, and even strip clubs are all places of interest for Kereszi but rather than give us a glamorized travelogue, Kereszi scratches below the surface, sometimes deeply, to show us what these places of interest are really like and, in a way, that makes them even more interesting (and maybe even fun).

ToP #0084: Interview with Lori Vrba

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:12:00 GMT

Currently in the photographic art world, style and process seem to be the means by which we measure photography worthy of the title "art." This is why I found Lori Vrba's photography to be so exciting. Her total devotion to the subject matter to her photographs, rather than to "how" the photographs were made, set Lori apart and provides a welcome and refreshing journey.

ToP #0083: Interview with Elizabeth Fleming

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Elizabeth Fleming's photography captures the small moments of everyday life. Children at play, objects in our everyday world, and the non-events that surround us provide opportunities to slow us down so that we can appreciate the wonderful subtleties that life offers us every day, that is if we will only take a moment to be stopped by it.

ToP #0082: Interview with Ralf Bruck

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Ralf Bruck's photographs focus on architecture, landscapes, and people. Educated at the Duesseldorf School of Photography, Bruck's street photography, we might call it the social landscape in the United States, rarely show a complete situation but rather, he focuses on the small details that are typically overlooked through casual observation thus creating a new dialog between the images themselves and their relationship to the viewer.

ToP #0081: Interview with Tootie Nienow

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:06:00 GMT

Tootie Nienow enjoys exploring photography through experimentation both in terms of tools, technique, and subject matter. Her photography is both conceptual and sublime and at the same time her work is also intriguing and engaging, and yes, even beautiful too.

ToP #0080: Interview with Beth Kientzle

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 22:08:00 GMT

Beth Kientzle's photographs, which focus mostly on urban and natural landscapes, are made using alternative tools and techniques. This allows her to play with abstract shapes, light, and motion in her photographs. Although Kientzle's approach introduces an element of chance into her photography, it is chance tempered with a distinct and unique vision.

ToP #0079: Project Without End

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:03:00 GMT

This is the third podcast in a three part series where I explore in greater depth the idea of using projects to guide your photography. Today I'm talking about projects without end.

ToP #0078: Working on Multiple Projects

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:55:00 GMT

This is the second podcast in a three part series dealing with the issue of projects. Today I talk about working on multiple projects. Below are some links to various resources mentioned in the podcast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mind_Mapping_software

ToP #0077: Ideas vs. Projects

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:53:00 GMT

I'm continuing with my exploration and discussion of photographic projects with a 3-part podcast series. In this first podcast, I want to explore the concept of ideas and how they may or may not lead to projects.

ToP #0076: Interview with Liz Kuball

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Liz Kuball is based in Southern California. She began photographing in 2006 and since then has been exhibited in Los Angeles, New York, and Detroit. Her work has appeared online in the Humble Arts Foundation group show, FILE Magazine, and Flak Photo. In 2009, Liz was selected by the Humble Arts Foundation for inclusion in the Collector's Guide to Emerging Art Photography. Liz"s most recent and on-going body of work called "California Vernacularâ is a perfect example of the social landscape. Whether the photos are taken in the city, the suburb, or a rural place, Liz manages to capture the essence of our human existence in the natural environment. The result is sometimes poignant, sometimes whimsical but always engaging.

ToP #0075: Interview with Jason Langer

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jason Langer has been exhibiting in major galleries for 20 yrs. He was Michael Kenna's first assistant starting in 1989, and worked as a printer and retoucher for Kenna, Ruth Bernhard, Arthur Tress, James Fee and many others for 15 yrs. He has also been teaching at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for the past 10 yrs., teaching graduate and undergraduate students about his personal obsession with photography. In 2006, Nazrealli Press published a monograph of Jason's work called "Secret Cityâ which is a journey through damp-lit streets of anonymous cities and is infused with symbolism and intrigue.

ToP #0074: Interview with Alan George

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Alan George is a San Francisco-based photographer who came to photography not through the halls of higher learning or by becoming enamored with photography as a child or as an artist in another medium who discovers photography as their "trueâ medium but rather, as someone who used a camera in much the same way as most people do, to record life's events . . . in other words, he was a snap-shooter.

In 2003 photography became a more central part of Alan"s life, a way of exploring the social landscape. The process of searching, selecting and examining something that would otherwise go unnoticed helped him to feel more conscious, more aware, more engaged, more alive.

ToP #0073: Getting a Photo Critique

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:48:00 GMT

I'm frequently asked by listeners if I can give them a comprehensive critique/review of their photography. Although very brief comments regarding one's work is fine and I do this regularly when asked, a comprehensive review can be time-consuming for me to do. A solution, and a way to support the podcast at the same time, is for me to offer a critique/review service to listeners. A one-hour session is available via phone for $100. All proceeds go towards supporting this podcast. Listen to this podcast episode for more details about what is included.

ToP #0072: Interview with Manuel Rivera-Ortiz

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:33:00 GMT

Puerto Rican-born Manuel Rivera-Ortiz uses his camera to explore the world and tell the stories of people who have no voice and must struggle for their existence. His photographic projects in Bolivia, India, Turkey, Cuba, and Kenya highlight the toll extreme poverty can take on the human condition and at the same time, he captures the triumph of the human spirit as people struggle to overcome the extreme conditions that they must deal with daily.

This is to date the longest interview I have conducted for Thoughts on Photography and is probably one of the most poignant and thought-provoking both from a photographic and humanitarian viewpoint. It shows how truly powerful the camera that you hold in your hands can be when used to bring attention to the human condition.

ToP #0071: Interview with Christy Karpinski

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:01:00 GMT

Christy Karpinskiâs undergraduate degree in Women's Studies gave her the chance to focus on issues of identity and of how we make sense of ourselves and others in the world. She later went on to earn an MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago and this provided her with the opportunity to engage with the issues self and identity in her photographic work where she now explores the realms of childhood and childhood spaces.

ToP #0070: Obtaining a Photographic Education

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:48:00 GMT

What is a photographic education and do you need one in order to be a photographer? Is school the way to go to get an education or are there other options? The pros and cons of studying photography at the academy are discussed as well as the role of a photographic education as a part of the photographic life.

ToP #0069: Interview with Julio DeMatos

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Julio De Matos is based in Portugal and I first got to know of Julio's work through his book "Fading Hutongs" which are photos of hutongs taken in China and through that work, I came to discover other significant bodies of work. Incidentally, "Fading Hutongs" was one of my favorite books of 2008.

Part of Julioâs initial work deals with and explores interconnections using alternative photographic processes. His later work, while on the surface, could be labeled travel photography, goes deeper into social commentary in the documentarian tradition by raising awareness of the survival and extinction of ancestral cultures.

Julioâs most recent work is closer to home and explores the influence of Brazilian architecture on the architecture of Portugal as well as the confluence of digital interventions in the landscape and subsequent print. Julioâs photography has been widely exhibited and he has had several books of his work published. I find exploring Julioâs work like peeling an onion with many layers, each one more revealing.

ToP #0068: Interview with Shane Lavalette

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:55:00 GMT

Shane Lavalette is a recent graduate with a BFA from Tufts University in partnership with The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Shane writes extensively about photography through his photo-related blog where he focuses primarily on fine art photography and issues concerning contemporary photographic practice. He features individual photographers, books, exhibitions and interviews. Shane is also the founder and editor of Lay Flat, a new print publication of contemporary photography and writing that uses an innovative magazine format for the articles and actual prints of the featured photographs.

Shane, who's personal photographic work has been well received through various exhibitions and awards, represents a new breed of young photographers who are putting as much an emphasis on the contributions they can make to the field of photography as on their own personal work.

ToP #0067: Beyond Juried Exhibitions

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 18:47:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss what to do when you have already achieved a certain level of success with your photography (particularly through juried exhibitions) and are wondering what do to and where to go next with the marketing of your work.

ToP #0066: Interview with Natalie Young

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Like many photographers, Natalie Young didn't start out with the intention of becoming a photographer but rather, photography found her. She left a career in finance, married a musician and began living the photographic life. After photographing on her husband's family farm, Young eventually realized that she had not only a body of work but had work that could feed her artistically. As with the farm series, Young's approach to photography is usually a reflection of personal life and it is this approach that has given her the success she now enjoys with her photography.

ToP #0065: Interview with Victoria Ryan

Sat, 30 May 2009 23:06:00 GMT

Whether it is her lush photographs of botanticals, images of New Orleans, or her southern landscapes, Victoria Ryan brings a certain atmosphere to her photographs that is so strong, one can almost feel the textures of the plants, smell the decay of the swamp, or feel the thrill of Mardi Gras from the viewpoint of an insider.

ToP #0064: Photo Contests

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:20:00 GMT

Photo contests can be great ways to get your work on there and in front of other people. Photo contests can also help you develop and refine the skills of editing your work for submission. Recently though, more and more contests are developing rules whereby you lose ownership of your photography upon submission. Although the price of entering most contests is free, the ultimate price (the loss of ownership of your photographs) is too high a price to pay.

ToP #0063: Interview with Ken Rosenthal

Fri, 15 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Ken Rosenthal's images make use of diffusion, blur, and high contrast as a way of exploring his personal experiences through common memories and archetypes that we all share. His images evoke moods that run the gamut from a veiled happiness to a discordant nostalgia with some anxiety thrown in. It is Rosenthal's deep connection to his own psychological thoughts though which is on display and through his lens, we begin to see a bit of ourselves in his images.

ToP #0062: Interview with Suzanne Revy

Sat, 9 May 2009 23:42:00 GMT

Suzanne Revy's commercial portraiture (mostly of children) is truly excellent. Revy has that gift of being able to bring out a child's personality and then capture it on film. The result is something that families cherish for ages. It's no surprise then that Revy's personal fine art work (again mostly of children) captures the essence and personality of her subjects. The different in her fine art work though is that Revy also infuses a sense of place and time that evokes a shared sense of history, nostalgia and time. Also mentioned in this podcast is the Griffin Museum.

ToP #0061: The Rise of Online Fine Art Photo Magazine

Fri, 1 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

There has never been a better time to enjoy fine art photography than now, particularly with all of the new on-line web-based photography magazines that are being published. Cheaper to produce but no less excellent than print-based photography magazines with regards to content, on-line magazines provide a larger, wider venue for photographers to publish their work and get it to a wider audience. Below is a list (by no means comprehensive though) of several on-line photography magazines that you might want to check out:

Ahorn Magazine

Blueeyes Magazine

Burn Magazine

Deep Sleep

F-Stop Magazine

File Magazine

Fraction Magazine

Lens Culture

Seesaw Magazine

Vewd

Visura Magazine

Wassenaar

ToP #0060: Interview with Stella Johnson

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Stella Johnson is a documentary photographer who brings an engaging and captivating approach to her subjects. Her latest book, Al Sol: Photographs of Mexico, Cameroon, and Nicaragua is a great example of documentary photography that also works as fine art photography.

ToP #0059: Black & White or Color?

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Which is better, black and white or color photography? I've gotten asked this question many times by listeners and I find the question to be kind of strange because it all depends on what you are trying to communicate or accomplish with your photography. Sometimes it comes down to how well you create and develop your photos in one process or another (your skill), sometimes it is a matter of personal preference, and sometimes your subject tells you how to proceed. The bottom line is to follow your instinct and preference and not let anyone (including the marketplace) tell you it must be a certain way.

ToP #0058: Support Your Local Podcast

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Podcasts are a labor of love for those who create them however, even love has a price. This podcast outlines some ways you might help support your local podcast (and in particular Thoughts on Photography) by purchasing items from sponsors, click-throughs to sites such as B&H Photo and Amazon.com or just a direct donation through PayPal.

Have no fear, this podcast will always be free to anyone who cares to download and listen to it but any way to offset some of the costs of doing the podcast would be greatly appreciated and if you can't help financially, then an email of appreciate goes a long too. Thanks in adavance.

ToP #0057: Interview with Angela Bacon-Kidwell

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Angela Bacon-Kidwell's photography is the stuff of dreams (literally). Angela uses photography as a way to bring substance to her dreams and sub-conscious thoughts through her photographic imagery. Angela has also found recent success with her photography and her insights and thoughts are helpful and instructive to photographers no matter where they are on the spectrum regarding the promotion of their photography.

ToP #0056: Collectibility of Inkjet Prints

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode, I explore whether (at long last) inkjet prints can be considered collectible.

ToP #0055: Editing

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:46:00 GMT

In this episode, I discuss my own personal editing process (or workflow) from capture to the final decision regarding which photographs make the cut.

ToP #0054: Michael Wood & Miksang Photography

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:49:00 GMT

Miksang is a Tibetan word that translates as âGood Eyeâ, and is based on the Shambhala and Dharma Art teachings of the late meditation master, artist, and scholar ChÃgyam Trungpa, Rinpoche. Michael Wood is a Miksang teacher and mentor who has been practicing and refining Miksang over the past thirty years. Our discussion focuses on how Miksang can be a direction to take in working towards living a photographic life through the integtration of contemplative photography.

ToP #0053: Interview with Hiroshi Watanabe

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:08:00 GMT

Hiroshi Watanabe's photographic work is both inspiring and engaging. From his "Kabuki Players" series to his most recent (and very different) series "Ideologies in Paradise", Watanabe's photographic sensibilities and his experience help show us a path torward living a photographic life.

Note: Due to some technical issues with this episode, you will notice sound drop outs and a recurring blip sound. I apologize in advance and hope you still enjoy the interview.

ToP: Announcement - Folios Now Available

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 00:32:00 GMT

I'm now offering editioned folios of photographs from my "Anonymous Lives" and "Figure Studies" series. Each folio contains a boxed set of signed, titled, and numbered original prints (6" x 9" image size on 8.5" x 11" museum quality archival papers using pigment inks) along with a signed and numbered folio title page, print listing, and artist statement. The portfolio box is hand-crafted and made of heavyweight binder board lined with an archival liner and covered in luxurious black buckram with a Velcro button closure. Each folio is an edition of ten sets. In other words, the first edition of a folio will have ten folio sets available. Once these sell out, a second edition will be printed. The folios are:

Anonymous Lives (12 prints, Price = $125 + S&H)
Figure Studies (15 prints, Price = $150 + S&H)

To see the prints that are included in each folio or to place an order, please visit my web site, www.paulgiguere.com. I currently accept PayPal for payment.

ToP #0052: The Family of Photography

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:12:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss the isolation we sometimes feel when working on our photography and how, in reality, we are really more connected with other photographers than we realize. In a sense, we are all part of a photographic family and should never forget that fact when we find ourselves struggling to live the photographic life.

ToP #0051: Interview with Polly Chandler

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:04:00 GMT

Polly Chandler is a fine art photographer based in Austin, Texas. Polly's subjects vary widely and this makes for a diverse and engaging portfolio of work. Her subjects range from portraits to still lives to landscapes to environmental photographs and everything in between yet still her work maintains a certain consistency of style and imagery.

ToP #0050: Looking at Photographs

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:58:00 GMT

This podcast discusses the book "On Looking at Photographs: A Practical Guide" by David Hurn and Bill Jay. The book is published by Lenswork Publishing and provides some great insights on how to look at , or read, a photograph (which hopefully in turn helps us as photographers make better photographs).

ToP #0049: Interview with Joe Wigfall

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:37:00 GMT

Joe Wigfall is a New York-based street photographer who first came to my attention through a WNYC radio station project and contest highlighting the working styles and philosophies of several working street photographers in New York. The short video of Joe is wonderful to watch (as are many of the other videos made for other photographers). Joe went on to win the contest and I found his photos (and his process for making them) to be truly excellent. Joe's approach to street photography is refreshing, engaging, and above all, motivating.

ToP #0048: My Podcast Resolutions

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:21:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss the one year anniversary since I started Thoughts on Photography (October 15th actually), why I started the podcast, and some of my New Year resolutions for the podcast going forward for 2009.

ToP #0047: Favorite Photo Books of 2008

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:50:00 GMT

In this podcast I pull together a list of my favorite photography books published in 2008. The book list includes:

Saul Leiter

Helen Levitt

America by Zoe Strauss

Cuba: Campo Adentro by Susan S. Bank

Planet Shanghai by Justin Guariglia

Fading Hutongs by Julio De Matos

Ideology in Paradise by Hiroshi Watanabe

Interior Exposure by Jessica Todd Harper

Domestic Vacations by Julie Blackmon

A Certain Alchemy by Keith Carter

ToP #0046: Howard Zehr and Contemplative Photography

Sun, 7 Dec 2008 23:19:00 GMT

Howard Zehr is known worldwide for his work in transforming our understanding of justice, particularly restorative justice, and is a faculty member at Eastern Mennonite University's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. He is also the General Editor of The Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding series of which The Little Book of Contemplative Photography is a part. Zehr is also an accomplished photographer (particularly in creating the documentary-style photographs for his books) and teaches workshops on contemplative photography which promote "mindfulness" in photography.

ToP #0045: William Eggleston

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 01:24:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss the current resurgence in interest in the work of William Eggleston. An retrospective exhibition of Eggleston's work on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art along with a new book/catalog of the exhibition. Coincidentally, a new DVD documentary is also available as well. There has never been a better time to get to know the work Eggleston than now.

ToP #0044: Interview with Ibarionex Perello

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 01:10:00 GMT

Ibarionex Perello is a California-based photographer, writer, and educator. Ibarionex is a contributing writer for Shutterbug Magazine, PC Photo, and Digital PhotoPro. He is co-founder of Alas Media, a studio dedicated to telling stories through a variety of media, and is the host of the Candid Frame, a podcast focused on interviews of photographers across the wide spectrum of the photographic world, and FotoBoy, a blog on photography.

ToP #0043: Getting Known as a Fine Art Photographer

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:11:00 GMT

Getting known as a fine art photographer, that is getting your work out into the photographic public and gaining some name and photographic recognition, is not easy and there isn't a magic solution. This podcast discusses some things you can do though to increase your exposure and help you build a career in fine art photography.

ToP #0042: Exhibiting & Sharing Your Photography

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:13:00 GMT

In this episode, I explore the philosophy, reasons and rationale behind sharing your photography both as a way of completing what I call the "cycle" of photography and as a way of living the photographic life.

Focus Ring #16: New Toys, the Evil Video Commeth?, and More

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 01:14:00 GMT

This episode of the Focus Ring (a round-table discussion featuring podcasters from the Photocast Network) features Boris Nienke (nSonic), Rolf Steinort (Meet the Gimp), Chris Marquardt (Tips from the Top Floor), and Paul Giguere (Thoughts on Photography). In this episode, we discuss lots of new developments and announcements from Photokina 2008, some philisophical questions concerning the new video capabilities being introduced into DSLR cameras, and more. We also mention various products and web sites during the show which are listed below:

Schnellkapplung MiniConnect

Subjectiv Creative Lens System

Carl Zeiss Lens for Canon EOS

Lensbaby's New Line of Lens

Leica DLux-4 and G1 Cameras

Sigma DP2 Camera

Photokina 2008 Report

ToP #0041: Interview with Meg Birnbaum

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:43:00 GMT

Meg Birnbaum is a photographer based in Massachusetts whose photographs evoke a certain modern sense of nostalgia. From her botanical photos to her scenes from county fairs to her almost fantastical world in the "Fly by Night" portfolio, Meg's work stimulates our imagination and our memories of events both lived and only dreamed of. Some photo reviews mentioned in this episode include:

FotoFest
Review Santa Fe
Photolucida

ToP #0040: Tao of Photography

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:06:00 GMT

I recently picked up a book by Philippe Gross and S.I. Shapiro called "The Tao of Photography: Seeing Beyond Seeing." Ignoring the overused "Tao of Whatever" as a part of the title, I found this book to be excellent and the advice useful at all stages of your photography.

ToP #0039: Attending Photo Workshops

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:02:00 GMT

I recently attended a photo workshop at the Center for Photography at Woodstock in Woodstock, NY with Constantine Manos. Photo workshops can be fun, invigorating, and yes, expensive and even unsettling but I think they are one more thing we can do lead a photographic life.

ToP #0038: Interview with Lorenzo

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:48:00 GMT

Lorenzo is a New York City based street photographer who began using digital cameras just a few years ago. His use of the digital cameras as a part of his work flow has liberated him and has allows him to achieve new creative (and prolific heights) with his photography including several self-published books through Blurb.com. Lorenzo's intense passion and interest in photography helps him to lead a photographic life in the truest sense.

ToP #0037: Robert Frank

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:36:00 GMT

The German book publisher Steidl is in the process of releasing reprints of photography books by Robert Frank (some of which are in newly edited editions supervised by Frank himself). The titles include:

The Americans (50th Anniversary Edition)
Robert Frank - Peru
Robert Frank - Paris
Zero Mostel Reads a Book

Although I'm extremely happy to be re-exposed to Frank's work, of particular interest to me is the Zero Mostel book which I found to be a delight. All of these books are not only worth your attention but should be on your bookshelf. More books by Frank are promised in the coming months and year.

ToP #0036: Film vs Digital?

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:30:00 GMT

Although digital cameras have been with us for quite awhile and the quality of images produced with digital cameras can equal or are better than film-based cameras, the issue of film versus digital continues to permeate our photographic discussions. This podcast attempts to re-frame the issue as not one of quality but rather process (or how we like to work). I know this can still be a hot button issue but hopefully my thoughts add, in a constructive way, to the decision-making that some photographers still grapple with when contemplating film or digital in their photographic life.

ToP #0035: Interview with Aline Smithson

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 01:52:00 GMT

In this podcast, photographer Aline Smithson and I have a conversation regarding her approach to photography, the creative process, and a wide range of topics related to the photographic life. You can see Aline's work and read more about her at her web site. Aline also maintains a blog called Lenscratch where she frequently discusses work by other photographers and news of interest to the fine art photographer.

ToP #0034: Leave Your Comfort Zone Behind

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 17:23:00 GMT

Sometimes our photographic comfort zone (the typical subjects, tools, and places that we are most comfortable with in our photography) can be our biggest barrier to making creative leaps in our work. Finding the courage to occasionally leave your comfort zone behind can lead to the "next step" in your photographic life. This episode references the book "Art and Fear" by David Bayle and Ted Orland and is highly recommended.

ToP #0033: Interview with Gordon Stettinius

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:45:00 GMT

In this podcast, photographer Gordon Stettinius and I have a conversation where we discuss Gordon's approach to photography, his creative process, and a certain philosophy of photography. You can see Gordon's work and read more about him at his web site.

During the course of the discussion, we also make mention of a web site called HolgaMods which is Holga camera modification and enhancement business run by Randy Smith. Since we mentioned it in the podcast, I just thought it would be good to make the link available here.

ToP #0032: Cameras as Weapons?

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:01:00 GMT

This podcast discusses some of the essays of Susan Sontag, which can be found in the collection "On Photography", and in particular the idea that a camera can be viewed as a weapon. A controversial thought to be sure but one that I hope elicits a conversation about how photographers view their tools and the role they play in the creative process.

ToP #0031: 20X200

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:39:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss the 20X200 photography and fine art print sales site hosted by Jen Bekman of Jen Bekman Gallery in New York City. Their whole approach to limited edition sales of prints involves pricing three different size prints (small, medium, and large) in different quantities (200, 20, and 2 respectively) at varying prices ($20, $200, and $2,000 respectively). This could be a whole new approach to limited editions and pricing in general for most photographers that allows the average person the ability to purchase a photograph based on their budget and their motivation as a collector of photography.

ToP #0030: Entering Juried Photo Exhibitions

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 01:34:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss juried photo exhibitions, what they are, how they work, and the pros and cons of entering them. I also provide some helpful tips should this be something you wish to pursue for your own fine art photography. An excellent resource for finding out when and where various exhibition opportunities are and other great advice for marketing your fine art photography is Mary Virginia Swanson's book "Marketing Guidebook for Photographers." Ms. Swanson also maintains a blog that frequently list exhibition opportunities as well.

ToP #0029: Interview with Bill Vaccaro

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:03:00 GMT

In this podcast I interview photographer Bill Vaccaro to discuss his photography, his creative process, and how he goes about living a photographic life. You can see Bill's work and read more about him at his web site.

Some other web sites and/or photographers mentioned on this show include:

Mark Tucker
Keith Carter
James Fee
Fan Ho
Rocky Schenck

ToP #0028: Imitation and Inspiration - Learning from Other Photographers

Tue, 20 May 2008 01:45:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss how learning from other photographers and their work (sometimes through imitation) can be essential step towards learning how to see photography and contributes towards gaining inspiration for your own work and eventually your own vision.

ToP #0027: Photosharing Web Sites for Fine Art Photographers

Sun, 18 May 2008 01:58:00 GMT

In this episode, I discuss the use of photosharing web sites (i.e. Flickr) by fine art photographers as possible alternatives to creating and managing a traditional stand-alone web sites.

ToP #0026: Defining a Photographic Life

Fri, 2 May 2008 01:20:00 GMT

In this podcast, I try to address the question of what it means to "live a photographic life", a term I frequently use in my podcasts.

ToP #0025: Model Releases & Shooting in Public Places

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:15:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss the importance of model releases and I cover some important issues to remember when shooting in public. Below is a sample model release that you can copy and modify to suite your particular purpose. Also, here is a link to a document called "The Photographer's Right: Your Rights and Remedies when Stopped or Confronted for Photography" by Bert Krages, Attorney at Law.

[NOTE: This podcast and associated information are not meant to be actual legal advice. Please consult the local laws where ever you happen to be shooting photographs and/or seek professional legal advice.]

Model Release
[INSERT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER NAME, ADDRESS, AND OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION HERE]


I, _______________________________, grant [PHOTOGARHER NAME] all rights and permission to use the photographs taken of me on ____/____/____ at __________________________, _______ in any manner [PHOTOGARHER NAME] chooses.

___________________________________________
Signature                 Date: ____/____/____

I, undersigned, being the parent of guardian of the minor whose name appears above, hereby consents to the forgoing condition and warrants that I have the authority to give such consent.

___________________________________________ Signature                 Date: ____/____/____

ToP #0024: Essays About the Photographic Life

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:35:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss how essays about photography can help us gain insight into our own photography. Below are links to several essay collections that are mentioned throughout this episode:

Beauty in Photography: Essays in Defense of Traditional Values - Robert Adams

Why People Photograph - Robert Adams

Along Some Rivers - Robert Adams

The Mind's Eye: Writings on Photography and Photographers - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography - Roland Barthes

On Photography - Susan Sontag

Light Matters - Vicki Goldberg

Advice for Photographers - Al Weber

Truth and Photography: Notes on Looking and Photographing - Jerry Thompson

Between the Eyes: Essays on Photography and Politics - David Levi Strauss

Inside the Photograph - Peter Bunnell

The Education of a Photographer - Traub, Heller, and Bell

The Photography Reader - Liz Wells

25 Lessons I Have Learned (About Photography): The Art of Living - Lorenzo Dominguez

ToP #0023: Overcoming Our Obsession with the Tools of Photography

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:46:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss the photographer's obsession with cameras, gadgets, and technology and I offer up some tips on breaking the chain of the "must upgrade" craze.

Focus Ring #13: Lucky Number Thirteen

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 22:02:00 GMT

This episode of the Focus Ring (a round-table discussion featuring podcasters from the Photocast Network) features John Arnold (PhotoWalkthrough.com), Rolf Steinort (Meet the Gimp), BenoÃt Marchal (DÃclencheur), and Paul Giguere (Thoughts on Photography). In this episode, we discuss how to find something to shoot (when you live in the least interesting place in the world), continuous versus strobe (or flash) lighting, getting your images to the wall, and composing and shooting in a square format with your digital SLR. We also mention various products and web sites during the show which are listed below:

http://citydailyphoto.com/portal/

http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/

http://www.lenswork.com

http://www.elinchrom.com/

http://www.alienbees.com/

http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=filters&itemnum=BWVF

http://www.photosenaveugle.fr/

http://www.aperture.org/store/books-detail.aspx?ID=210

http://www.herorat.org/

ToP #0022: Interview with Susan Burnstine

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 15:20:00 GMT

In this podcast I interview photographer Susan Burnstine to discuss her photography, her creative process, and how she goes about living a photographic life. You can see Susan's work and read more about her at her web site:

www.susanburnstine.com

ToP #0021: Moving Beyond Photographic Debates

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:16:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss the various debates that have occurred in photography since its early beginnings through present day and how these debates, while sometimes useful to move the entire field of photography forward to the next evolutionary level, can also stifle our creativity as photographers.

ToP #0020: Art or Artifice - Labeling the Photographer

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:05:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss the various labels that we apply to ourselves (or are applied to us) as photographers (e.g. fine art photographer) and whether such labels are pretentious or practical.

ToP #0019: The Long Tail, Websites, and Your Fine Art Photography

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:39:00 GMT

This podcast focuses on a discussion of websites as a way of marketing and promoting your fine art photography. The podcast covers such issues as:

- identifying your audience
- setting goals for your website
- elements of a fine art website
- types of website solutions for the photographer

Links to sites mentioned in this podcast include:

VisualServer
Foliolink
Photobistro
Artspan
Flickr

ToP #0018: Creating an Artist Statement

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 02:31:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss the artist statement. Why are they important, who the audiences are for them, the different types of statements possible, and how to write them.

ToP #0017: Selecting a Subject

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 02:24:00 GMT

Continuing a discussion started in Thoughts on Photography #16, which looked at developing a photographic style, I discuss an approach to selecting a subject to photograph.

ToP #0016: Developing a Photographic Style

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:32:00 GMT

In this podcast I define what a photographic style is and what it means to you as a photographer.

ToP #0015: Flow - The Psychology of Optimal Photography

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:14:00 GMT

This podcast explores the concept of "flow." According to the definition on Wikipedia, flow is a mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing, characterized by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. In photography, flow can be used to help achieve a sense of heightened creativity with your photography.

As a reference for this podcast, here is a simple chart that explains the four levels of flow:

Level 1
Low Skill - Low Challenge = Typically breeds apathy

Level 2
Low Skill - High Challenge = Typically causes frustration and anxiety.

Level 3
High Skill - Low Challenge = Can bring about contentment and can build confidence but the challenge must increase to encourage true engagement.

Level 4
High Skill - High Challenge = Desired focused state where flow is attained,

ToP #0014: Does Print Size Really Matter?

Thu, 7 Feb 2008 01:51:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss the pros and cons or printing large sized prints and how that relates to selling your work both to the collector and the average consumer.

ToP #0013: Limited Edition Prints

Fri, 1 Feb 2008 03:06:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss limited edition prints, what they are, who they benefit, and whether they are right for you. I also cover some of the details that you need to consider should you wish to sell your prints in limited editions.

ToP #0012: How to Price Your Photographic Prints

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:59:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss how to arrive at a price for your photographic prints regardless of whether you sell your work in unlimited or limited editions. Below is a simple formula that I discuss in the podcast for determining the price:

Art Fair Pricing (unlimited)
Step 1: Determine the cost of your materials for a single print. For example:

- 13x19 paper
- inkjet print
- bag and board
- add framing costs if applicable

$10 for materials X 33% = $13.30

Step 2: Multiply the result from Step 1 by 3. This is the price you could charge for your print (and probably sell it). For example:

$13.30 X 3 = $39.90 (round up to $40)

Exhibition/Gallery Pricing (limited)
Step 1: Determine what level you are at as a fine art photographer with regards to your reputation and experience exhibiting and/or publishing and then multiply an hourly rate by 33%. For example:

Beginner - $100/hr X 33% = $133
Emerging - $200/hr X 33% =$266
Established - $300/hr X 33% = $399

Step 2: Multiply the result from Step 1 by 3. This is the price you could charge for your print (and probably sell it). For example:

$133 X 3 = $399 or $400 (exhibition)
$266 X 3 = $798 or $800
$399 X 3 = $1197 or $1200

ToP #0011: Ten Ideas for Living a Photographic Life

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:25:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss ideas that help you remain engaged in your fine art photography when time doesn't permit to actually go out and make photographs.

ToP #0010: Alternative Photographic Processes: What's Old is New Again

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:27:00 GMT

In this podcast I discuss alternative photographic processes and their rise and prominence in the fine art photography realm.

ToP #0009: Getting Started Marketing Your Photography

Tue, 8 Jan 2008 01:42:00 GMT

This podcasts discusses how to get started marketing your fine art photography. Below is a list of the major centers of photography in the United States mentioned in the podcast that provide juried exhibition opportunities:

Blue Sky Gallery
1231 NW Hoyt
Portland, Oregon, 97209
www.blueskygallery.org

Center
PO Box 2483
Santa Fe, NM 87504
www.visitcenter.org

Center for Creative Photography
University of Arizona
1030 North Olive Road
Tuscon, AZ 85721
www.creativephotography.org

Center for Photography at Woodstock
59 Tinker Street
Woodstock, NY 12498
www.cpw.org

Griffin Museum of Photography
67 Shore Road
Winchester, MA 01890
www.griffinmuseum.org

Houston Center for Photography
1441 W. Alabama
Houston, TX 77006
www.hcponline.org

The Light Factory
Spirit Square Suite 211
345 N College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
www.lightfactory.org

Light Work
316 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244
www.lightwork.org

Minnesota Center for Photography
165 13th Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
www.mncp.org

Photographic Center Northwest
900 Twelfth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
www.pcnw.org

Photographic Resource Center
832 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
www.bu.edu/prc/

Silver Eye Center for Photography
1015 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
www.silvereye.org

ToP #0008: Using Projects to Sustain Your Photography

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:36:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss the importance of developing and implementing photographic projects as a way to sustain yourself as a fine art photographer. I also cover a project planning and implementation process that listeners may find useful.

ToP #0007: Promoting Your Fine Art Photography

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 01:24:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss the role of motivation in promoting your fine art photography. In particular, I cover three specific levels of motivation and use them to create a framework to help you effectively promote your work while remaining true to your goals as a photographer.

ToP #0006: Inspiring Photography Books Published in 2007

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:09:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss six of my favorite new photography books that were published in 2007. You can get more information about these books by visiting the links below (available only via my blog, thoughtsonphotography.com):

Driftless: Photographs from Iowa - Danny Wilcox Frasier

Cage Call: Life and Death in the Hard Rock Mining Belt - Louie Palu (Note: this book is no longer available however, selections from the book were recently published in Lenswork)

Eye of the West - Nancy Wood

Shaolin: Temple of Zen - Justin Guariglia

I See Angels Every Day - Hiroshi Watanabe

Findings - Hiroshi Watanabe

ToP #0005: Finding Inspiration in Photography Magazines

Sun, 9 Dec 2007 02:41:00 GMT

In this podcast, I discuss various magazines that I find inspirational, informative, and pleasureable to read. Magazines mentioned in this podcast include:

Lenswork

Aperture

Blind Spot

Spot

Contact Sheet

Photography Quarterly

Nueva Luz

B&W Magazine

Focus

CameraArts

Photo-Eye Booklist

ToP #0004: Self-Publishing A Photography Book

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:18:00 GMT

This podcast discusses self-publishing options for photographers using on-line publishing companies. Mentioned in this podcast is Blurb.com

ToP #0003: Attending a Photo Review - Part 2

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:38:00 GMT

Here are some of the reviewers mentioned in this podcast:

Brooks Jensen - publisher and editor of Lenswork Magazine

Darius Himes - editor of PhotoEye Booklist

Tim Anderson - publisher and editor of CameraArts Magazine

Mary Virginia Swanson - consultant, educator

Other Great Reviewers
Laura Addison, Curator of Contemporary Art, Museum of New Mexico
Pilar Graves - Owner and Director, Pilar Graves Fine Art
Marita Holdaway - Director, Benham Gallery
Julianne Newton - Editor, Visual Communication Quarterly
Larry Padgett, Executive Director, The Center for Fine Art Photography
Ann Pallesen - Gallery Director, Photographic Center Northwest
Alan Rapp - Photography and Design Editor, Chronicle Books
Madeline Yale, Program Director, Houston Center for Photography

ToP #0002: Attending a Photo Review - Part 1

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:52:00 GMT

This podcast focuses on photo reviews (or portfolio reviews) and provides an overview of how they can help emerging photographers move to the next level with their fine art photography.

Some of the photo review venues that are mentioned in this podcast include:

PhotoLucida

Review Santa Fe

FotoFest

ToP #0001: Welcome

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:09:00 GMT

This is the first episode of Thoughts on Photography, a podcast that explores what it means to live a photographic life.