Searching for Dancers of all Styles!

Which is better? A, B, C, or is it D?

Today I had a great discussion with a few of my students. They kept going at it with one another on who has the better camera. Instead of just butting in to the conversation, I decided that I would sit back for a moment, and just listen.
I rarely if ever tell a student that they have a better camera than the next. Today I kind of had to step in and clear the air of the "My camera is better than yours" conversation. I am guessing that in the eyes of the students, it's the mega pixels, lens speed/size, brand, size, and a 10 page list of functions that determines if their camera trumps the others.
After about 10 minutes of listening to them bicker at each other I decided to tell them that they are all wrong. Their eyes became big, and I was looked at as if I just kicked the family dog, or even left it on top of the car in a kennel during a family road trip. One of the students decided that she was going to stand up to say "You are wrong Mr. Librarian!" I thought to myself that maybe this is her first time coming in contact with me. One of the students to her right gently elbowed her, and said "You idiot, he is a photographer!" I asked that they not use unnecessary language when speaking to a class mate, but yes I am a photographer. Well, if your a photographer, why are you working at a school? Thinking to myself do I really need to explain this, I tried to make it short and sweet. "Well, when you get older you will realize that being an artist is not as easy as you may think it is, also I wanted to have something to fall back on when business wasn't paying all the bills."
Nothing was said by her after that, just a few awful looks here and there. I ended the conversation, and feud, by saying to the students, "The best camera is the camera you have in your hands. You make and create the photograph using framing, composition, selected subject matter, and much more by using your eyes, and artistic creativity. The camera just documents what you see, and how you see it."
The girl that wanted to crack me over the head with her D70 said "I guess that sounds right."
As I started to walk off I asked that they critique one anther's work, not the functions of their camera, but showing each other respect. I walked to my desk the students followed, and placed about 30 images on my desk, and asked if I would critique their work. I thought to myself, OH SHIT!!!!!!

The Passing of Life...

Nature can be a little funny thing at times, but every now and then it may seem a little cruel. A while back when living in Los Angeles, I came home from work and school to pick up a few items I needed for a photo shoot. Normally I would have entered through the front door, but for whatever reason I decided to go around to the backyard. Out of no where I see a tiny object on the concrete that just didn't seem to belong there. As I walked down the stairs, I started to realize that the small object was a dead baby bird. Typically I would have just walked passed it, but for whatever reason I felt I needed to photograph this bird. I walked back to the car to retrieve my camera while saying to myself, "I know I shouldn't do this, but I have to."

With my camera in hand, I walked back to document my discovery. Ironically I already had my macro extension tube on the camera, and was able to create images inches away from the fallen chick. I continued to photgraph the bird from a variety of angles. Out of the corney of my eye the vibrant colors from across the way caught my attention. The idea of a funeral came to mind with all the beautiful flowers laid atop the caskit. I decided to place the birds on top, or in the flowers as if it was a natural resting place.

For the next eight days I came across many birds that had passed in different stages of development. A few birds were days old, others where developing feathers, or dried up due to the blistering heat from the sun and concrete. I never could figure out where the birds were coming from, and why they passed or were pushed out the nest. I created over 300 images of the birds, both as I found them, and on the flowers I rested their bodies on. After documenting each of the birds, I laid them to rest in flower beds in which I photographed them in, allowing them to become a perminant part of our earth.

Through this series, I realized that it is okay to let go, and explore the world around you, even if it didn't seem to be the norm. The way I see things as a photographer has broadened dramatically since then. Monther Nature can teach you some amazing thigns.

Echoing of a thought....

One of my favorite quotes is by an amazing shero by the name of Maya Angelou, who I am sure everyone knows of. As I was trying to find quotes to post on and along the tables and walls of Columbine Elementary, I came across 30 or so amazing quotes by authors, artist, and philanthropist, but this one quote stuck out to me: "If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." -Maya Angelou
To some it may seem a little snarky, but to me, this is something I should have came across a long time ago. When students come to me to complain about something petty, I take them to the wall and they read the quote. If and when I get all crazy because I don't have control, I just say to myself, Michael! If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it change your attitude!

Light.....

Though it seems like an eternity since my last photo shoot in the Lord and Quinn Studio, even though it was only three weeks. I really wanted to create images with a warm feel, nothing to fashion oriented. This shoot was stripped down, and all about the mood created by the light, and the body language from the model, Solomon Phillips.

The lighting was incredibly simple, nothing to complicated. My intention was to recreate the feeling of being lit by a large window.  Two large 42" umbrellas stacked on top of one another with the dome of the umbrellas pointed towards Solomon to soften the light on the right side. On the left side I used a 48" reflector disk to give separation from Solomon and the background, while still embracing the strong shadows and soft gradation of the light.

I also have a yellow filter on the camera to warm up the photograph though I desaturate about 50% of the yellow in photoshop. I set my Shutter speed to 1/250 to allow as little ambient light as possible in the background. When you are using strobe your F- stop controls your strobe lights while your shutter speed controls your ambient (existing) light. The slower your shutter speed, the more exposure to the background. The faster your shutter speed, the less exposure to your background.  Keep in mind some cameras will not allow you to use that high of a shutter speed when using strobe or electronic flash. 

When I create a photograph I try to keep the lighting as simple as possible. Always trying to enhance the photograph with the lighting. If you know the function of each light, and why you are using it, I honestly feel it will help you in creating the images you envisioned.