around the net 17, new videos and project

Joe McNally is a well known photographer that shares his knowledge and takes time to go “the extra step” for others. In a recent post on Joe’s blog he shares a story about how he and his photography selflessly helped a family in need in New Jersey. It’s well worth the read, on many levels.

I’ve mentioned we’ll be creating some new prophotolife videos next week. Some friends are pitching in to help out with four new episodes over the course of next Monday and Tuesday. Want a sneak peek? Here are the planned subjects:

1. The outdoor, natural light portrait
2. Outdoor family portraits
3. Business / executive portrait
4. A fun, retro glamour style portrait shoot

So expect to see those in following weeks. With all of this production going on (and hectic deadlines at the studio) that means I’ll miss posting a new video this coming Monday (for the first time in a looooong time). Instead, next Monday’s post will take a look at what other photographers are doing with video.

Anybody want to join in a photo project? Since that discussion started there have been some great suggestions. My first thought was to do something up big, try and find some project sponsors and create the “mother of all photo projects”. Well, reality tapped on the shoulder and said, “hey, buddy, you just need to get out and create some new personal work…now”.

After reading suggestions and thinking about recent posts, I’ve decided to document my town (Cincinnati) from now till (at least) September 30. There are things about Cincinnati I’ve wanted to seek out and haven’t and things I pass by most every day that I’ve never photographed. Before we know it, the things we once recognized have disappeared from the landscape, whether we live in / near a small town or a big city (when’s the last time you saw a telephone booth?).

The upcoming Cincinnati Photo Walk will provide an opportunity to look closely at some details. It was probably the recent post on the Farm Security Administration that put me in a documentary mood. If you’d like to join along photographing your own town (and I hope you will), post your images to the prophotolife Flickr discussion group and tag them “my town” to share your progress.

I plan to weekly document what I’m learning from the process here on prophotolife and encourage you to do the same. If you join in and have a blog / website please let me know and I’ll be happy to link to your progress, too.

Any interest in reading an amazingly detailed digital workflow for fine art photographers? It doesn’t get any better than this post from Micheal Ezra on photo.net.

As mentioned, the past couple weeks have involved really long hours. Blogging at the end of every day is something I look forward to, an important part of the day. Some days time runs out, though, before I can respond to all of the email questions in my various inboxes. All deserve thoughtful responses, so I hope you’ll consider posting them in the discussion forum. That way a number of knowledgeable responses can be counted on for your ideas and questions and I’ll be sure to join in. Sharing knowledge is what it’s all about.

Have a great weekend and we’ll get together again on Monday!

- Jim T.