Behind the Shot - Video

Canon recently announced the EOS R5 and R6, along with a number of lenses, and I knew right then I needed to get someone from Canon on the show to chat about all of the great new gear.The EOS R5 and R6 announcements were huge, and I am not saying that lightly. Since the EOS R was released I have heard a constant noise from people wondering when Canon would release the full frame mirrorless bodies that ‘real’ pros want. The announcements on July 9, 2020, answered virtually all of the concerns people were raising, but at the same time created a few new ones. I for one would LOVE to have both the R5 and the R6, for completely different reasons. Along with those two new bodies Canon announced the RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM, RF600mm and RF800mm F11 IS STM, RF85mm F2 Macro IS STM, and RF Mount Extenders at both 1.4x and 2x. They also announced a new printer, the imagePROGRAF PRO-300. I decided to reach out to my friends with contacts at Canon about doing a live streamed technical Q&A chat, something that could help clarify the differences in the bodies and answer some of the questions people had been asking me. I was able to get Drew MacCallum, Advisor, Technical Information at Canon USA, to do a live stream with me over on YouTube. Check it out, and I hope we were able to answer some, if not all, of your questions. Canon Links Canon USA: usa.canon.com R5: Canon EOS R5 R6: Canon EOS R6 RF800mm: RF800mm F11 IS STM RF600mm: RF600mm F11 IS STM RF100-500mm: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM RF85mm F2 Macro: RF85mm F2 Macro IS STM Extender RF1.4x: Extender RF1.4x Extender RF2x: Extender RF2x imagePROGRAF PRO-300: imagePROGRAF PRO-300 July 9, 2020 Press Release: Canon Officially Announces The Canon EOS R5 and R6

On the day I am writing this post Canon announced the new R5 and R6 mirrorless cameras, along with various lenses. Knowing that announcements were coming, but that no one could talk about it in detail until after the announcements, I reached out to my friends at Canon (thank you Scott Heath!) to try to arrange a show around the release. Lucky for me Rick Sammon was available on short notice, and on this show we will dive into a few images he created with the new Canon R6. If you are into photography at all, then the odds are good that you’ve heard of Rick Sammon. Rick is one of those photographers and educators that can help anyone become a better photographer, regardless of genre. That is a big part of the reason that this will be Rick’s fifth time on Behind the Shot. The next closest is Don Komarechka with 3 times, and I am planning on having him on again as soon as his new book comes out. Rick Sammon is a legend, and I mean that in every sense of the word. Every time I talk with him I am amazed at how much he enjoys what he does, his photography, educating others, from amateurs to pros, and living life. Along with his wife Susan, Rick is honestly one of the best there is, and I learn something every time we chat. It’s no wonder he is affectionately known as The Godfather of Photography. An award winning photographer, Rick is a Canon Explorer of Light. A tireless, prolific and inspirational image-maker, he is one of the most active photographers I know. His enthusiasm for digital imaging is contagious, making photography fun, creative, exciting and rewarding for others. He even does private coaching. Yeah, private coaching from Rick Sammon. That would be awesome. In the education area, Rick has almost 20 classes on KelbyOne, not to mention a wonderful interview he did with Kalebra Kelby (who in her own right is an amazing photographer that does stuff with an iPhone I wish I could do). I am always impressed how “Creative People” seem to be creative in many areas. Rick has authored more photography books than anyone I know. His most recent book, “Photo Quest: Discovering Your Photographic & Artistic Voice“, is a photography book… without pictures, and it is one of the best books on photography I have seen. I am so honored to have a small contribution in that book, along with the previous book “Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom: Discovering the Power of Pictures” – yeah, he has so many it’s hard to count. Being able to contribute just the small bits I did to these books is very special to me. An avid podcaster, Rick has now moved into the world of live streaming too, using his Photo Therapy Facebook Group as the outlet. I asked Rick once how he describes his photography, and he answered “evolving,” I kinda dig that description. He even hesitates to categorize his work. He does it all, and enjoys the freedom of not specializing. With nearly 40 years of experience, this self-taught photographer has many accomplishments – and as Rick suggests, “When you are through changing, you are through”. One other thing needs to be said about Rick… as mentioned above Rick’s partner is his wife Susan. While Rick seems to get the bulk of the attention, Susan deserves her own. Behind every successful person there is often a spouse, or special person that helps push them, guide them, and in many ways drive the success. That is Susan. She is there on his workshops, and she is often a co-author on his books. I am thankful Rick has such a talented partner and look forward to what these two do next. Join Canon Explorer of Light Rick Sammon and me as we take a closer look at some of his images taken with the new Canon EOS R6 and new Canon lenses, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Rick Personal: ricksammon.com Instagram: @ricksammonphotography Facebook: @RickSammonPhotography Twitter: @ricksammon Rick’s Workshops, Seminars, and Coaching ricksammon.com Rick’s Latest Book – Photo Quest: Discovering Your Photographic & Artistic Voice Rick’s Other Books on Amazon Photo Quest: Discovering Your Photographic & Artistic Voice Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom: Discovering the Power of Pictures The Oregon Coast Photo Road Trip The Route 66 Photo Road Trip All of Rick’s Books on Amazon The Picturing Success Podcast, with Larry Becker Picturing Success Podcast Rick’s Classes on KelbyOne KelbyOne Links Mentioned During the Show 30 Photography Quotes from Dave Williams on Scott Kelby’s Blog Canon Explorer of Light Rick Sammon and the EOS R6 A Few of Rick’s Images from the Canon R6 (DISCLAIMER: Images were shot with pre-production samples of the Canon EOS R6 camera. Not Final.)

2018 San Francisco 49ers Season:Los Angeles Chargers vs San Francisco 49ersThursday, August 30Santa Clara, CA(49ers Photo) I have been following Terrell Lloyd on Instagram for as long as I can remember, and when I got the chance to meet him at this year’s WPPI I was a bit star struck. Terrell is the Sr. manager of Photography, and Lead Team Photographer, for the San Francisco 49ers. His work is next level amazing. Along with working for the 49ers, where he started as a contract photographer in 1996, Terrell has been the athletic sports photographer for San Jose State University, providing all of their photographic services, for 14 years. And the best part is that Terrell, as the photographer, actually championship rings too! He has earned a number of them for his work with San Jose University as well as two NFC Championships with the San Francisco 49ers for his work and services. Terrell even has rings for his time on the professional bowlers tour and leagues, with several perfect 300 games and 800 series. Obviously, with these credentials, Terrell has made it to the absolute top of the photography world. He is a Canon Explorer of Light, a group of top professional photographers from around the world selected to provide educational programs around the country. The Canon Explorers share their photographic and technical expertise to a wide number of photographers in a variety of personal appearances, seminars gallery shows, and luckily for me – podcasts. SanDisk® choose Terrell Lloyd in 2009 to the newly formed SanDisk Extreme Team, and he was selected for the ThinkTankPhoto Pro Team in 2018. As with most artists of Terrell’s caliber, his talents span various genres. His clients include BMW, Yahoo, Intuit, Ritz Carlton Hotel, NetApp, Verizon, Canon USA and SanDisk®. He has covered NFL Super Bowl’s, PGA Golf, Professional Tennis, MLB Baseball, the NBA and more. Join Canon Explorer of Light Terrell Lloyd and me as we chat about how he gets the unique angles he does while shooting under the high pressure of an NFL football game, on this Behind the Shot. Connect with Terrell Website: terrelllloyd.net Instagram: @49ersofficialphotog Facebook: @49ersofficialphotog Twitter: @TLloyd49

Periodically I will receive an email telling me that “Someone filled out your contact form”, and that’s where today’s episode starts. Let me explain… You may have seen the episode I did with Erin Holmstead titled “Light Up Your Images” (a show that had a few ‘Ah Ha’ moments for me). During that episode I mentioned that I knew I had to have Erin on Behind the Shot as soon as she had shown me a few of her business cards the day we met. Once Pia Parolin saw that show she emailed me asking if I could show the “magical business card which started this all”. Whenever I get an email through the contact form I have a natural curiosity about who sent it. What kind of photographer are they? Are they a hobbyist or a pro? I feed that curiosity by checking out their work, and as luck had it Pia had a website based on her name, piaparolin.com. Almost immediately I knew I wanted to chat with Pia about her work, just as I did with Erin but for different reasons. Pia’s use of bright colors, shadow, and movement bring something unique to Street Photography. Yes, even her black and white street photos feel different to me. There is a punch of contrast in those that, just like the color shots, seems to leap off of the screen. Her journey into and through photography is an interesting one. It reminds me of my friend Matthias Hombauer, who is an amazing live music photographer that I had on the show some time ago, and who is a PhD in Molecular Biology. Pia is a biologist, with a PhD in Ecology. She was born and raised in Italy, and then studied in Germany and Brazil. Living in Nice, on the French Riviera, has provided her with the color palette with which she creates her images. She is Vice Secretary of Antibes Photo Club, Member of Collectif Photon Nice and of the Association La Créative de Biot, and a Jury Member of the Federation Photographique de France. Her first photography project and exhibition was “Promenade Moments” in 2017, a project that saw her capture the colourful moments of relaxation and dynamics on the Promenade des Anglais in her home of Nice, and the subject of this episode. Join photographer Pia Parolin and me as we chat about her image The Orange Cap, and discuss how to add color, contrast, and motion to your street photography on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Pia Website: piaparolin.com Instagram: @piaparolinphoto Facebook: @piaparolinphoto Twitter: @piaparolinphoto YouTube: Pia Parolin Photography Pia’s Recommended Photographer Jean-Christophe Béchet: jcbechet.com

Lindsay Adler is one of the best educators you will ever see. Stop and read that again…. I met Lindsay when I interviewed her for my WPPI 2020 episode, and I was simply blown away by her passion and energy. Watching her on stage, and then chatting with her for the interview, were one of the big highlights of my WPPI experience. Lindsay is one of those photographers that has attended the distinction of being a Canon Explorer of Light. I have met many of the artists in that group, and let me tell you…. Lindsay is hands down one of the best educators in the bunch. On the chance that you are not familiar with Lindsay let me explain… she is fashion photographer based out of New York City. Her work is extraordinary, having appeared in publication like Marie Claire, Elle Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, L’Officiel, and dozens more. Describing her work is difficult. It’s complex, clean, bold, and has a graphic feel to it. She could be shooting an advertising campaign, designer look books, jewelry, hair campaigns, fashion editorials, or professional athletes, and she would be equally at home in each. Her creativity, and ability to collaborate with others to create fresh new looks, is what she’s know for in the industry, but for viewers she is a wonderful artist. Lindsay has authored five books, and she teaches to tens of thousands of photographers world-wide through prestigious platforms such as creativeLIVE, KelbyOne, and the industry’s biggest conferences. Lindsay Adler is a force of positive energy and creativity, and if you ever get to see her speak, don’t miss it. Last but not least, I want to encourage you to visit her website. I lost about two hours browsing her portfolio looking at possible images for this episode. I just kept looking and finding amazing work. Picking one shot was virtually impossible, and there were a number of moment I felt inspired, and in awe. She is that good. Join world renowned fashion photographer Lindsay Adler and me as we discuss what it takes to create an amazing commercial fashion image, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Lindsay Website: lindsayadlerphotography.com Instagram: @lindsayadler_photo Facebook: @lindsayadlerphotography Twitter: @lindsayadler Learn with Lindsay lindsayadlerphotography.com Lindsay’s Books Store: store.lindsayadlerphotography.com/collections/books Lindsay’s Photographer Recommendation Eugenio Recuenco: eugeniorecuenco.com

Bob & Dawn Davis are an international wedding photography and design husband and wife team based in the Chicagoland area. I first met them this past February when they were kind enough to join me for an interview at WPPI. It was immediately clear that this couple is an amazing team. I had the chance to watch them on the Canon stage at WPPI twice, once alone and once as part of a panel, and what quickly became obvious is their passion for sharing their craft. Bob began his career in the newspaper industry as a photojournalist, and now partners with his wife in Bob & Dawn Davis Photography & Design. Their client list reads like a “Who’s Who” of entertainment’s elite. They have had the honor of photographing “A” list weddings such as Eva Longoria & Tony Parker’s wedding in Paris, Salma Hayek & François-Henri Pinault’s wedding in Italy, La La Vazquez & Carmelo Anthony’s TV wedding in New York, Tracey Edmonds & Eddie Murphy’s wedding in Bora Bora, ABC’s TV show The Bachelorette Ashley’s wedding to J.P. in California, along with many other fabulous events with Oprah Winfrey. Bob was also commissioned to work on the book America 24/7 that was featured on the Oprah Winfrey show and was a New York Times Best Seller. Their work has been featured in publications such as People, OK, O Magazine, InStyle, Inside Weddings, Town & Country, Munaluchi, Grace Ormonde, Modern Luxury Brides, The Knot, Ritz-Carlton magazine, Professional Photographer, Rangefinder, Popular Photography and more. Bob is in that small and highly elite group of photographers known as Canon Explorers of Light, along with being a member of the Westcott Top Pro Elite, SanDisk Extreme Team, and a ProMedia Gear Influencer. Together Bob and Dawn are the authors of two books, Lights Camera Capture, and We’re Engaged! Earlier I used the word “passion” when talking about their willingness to teach and share their craft, but that word can be used to describe many areas of Bob and Dawn’s world. They are passionate about their faith, their marriage, their family, and making the best of their lives. This a power couple. One of the interesting things I learned during our conversation at WPPI was that Bob and Dawn were now leading workshops to Africa, along with also doing their Wedding Photography and Design work. This new focus of theirs is very intriguing to me, as someday I even hope to do an African workshop myself. Join Canon Explorer of Light Bob Davis and me as we examine his image of a mother cheetah in pursuit of a steenbok to feed her four cubs, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Bob & Dawn Website: bobanddawndavis.com Blog: bobanddawndavis.info Facebook: @bobanddawndavis Facebook: @1BobDavis Instagram: @bobanddawndavis Instagram: @bobanddawn_inthewild Twitter: @bobanddawn Pinterest: @bobanddawndavis YouTube: @bobanddawndavis

Photographing the Olympics has got to be the pinnacle of a sports photographer’s career, and for Jeff Cable it’s one he’s reached many times, having photographed the last 6 Olympics for Team USA. I am always amazed by how many photographers either come from, or are in some way involved with, the tech industry. For more than 25 years, Jeff was a marketing executive at companies like Symantec, Magellan, and Micron, but while traveling the world for his corporate job, his interest and passion for photography grew quickly. He left the corporate world in 2016 to dedicate himself full-time to his photography. Since then, Jeff has earned respect around the globe for his creative images, and for sharing his love of photography with others. He’s best known for capturing photos for the US Olympic Committee, photographing the last six Olympic games, in Beijing, Vancouver, London, Sochi, Rio de Janeiro, and PyeongChang. As an educator, Jeff also leads photo tours where he teaches photo enthusiasts and professionals around the world. He has taught in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, Central and South America, and across the United States. He is one of the most watched and respected instructors of photography, with millions of views of his free online photography classes. Join me as I chat with one of the most accomplished sports photographers working today about how he captured an amazing image of the a ski jumper, with Olympic Rings as the back drop, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Jeff Website: jeffcable.com Instagram: @jeffcablephotography Facebook: @jeffcablephoto Twitter: @jcable12 YouTube: @jcable1234 Blog: blog.jeffcable.com

At WPPI this year I met a lot of great photographers, and one of those was Erin Holmstead. Skip Cohen had invited both of us to a party, and I was immediately I awe of Erin’s skill. Her photography is so clean, and impactful, and I asked her on the spot to be on the show. Let me be clear here, that is not the norm. There are so many great photographers out with fantastic work, and I get suggestions often, but a great image doesn’t on it’s own translate into a great show. Sometimes you see a photo you love, even if you don’t really have any questions about how it was made. For a good show the image we discuss needs to be one where two things are true: it’s a great image, and I have questions about it. With Erin’s work the questions were in my mind even before I could say how wonderful the shot was. Erin loves real, vibrant colors and clean, simple lighting. She started with family photo shoots and quickly escalated to commercial work, and that is where she thrives. Erin’s beauty portraits not only delight her clients, but create a sense of wonder in any viewer. Her self portraits will blow your mind, in fact you’ll wonder how they came to be and how you can get that kind of creativity in your own life. And Erin’s background is as versatile and delectable as her work. Photography has been a mainstay in Erin’s life for 15 years. She shoots for national brands like Paul Mitchel, runs a local photo club with over 1,000 members, and writes educational articles for Photofocus. Erin runs her business, and a household that includes her husband, two kids, and also children in foster care. Although she lives in Utah, she maintains the Kentucky sass she was born with. You’ll know Erin Holmstead’s work when you see it, and I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I do. Join beauty photographer Erin Holmstead and me as we discuss lightening up your photos with amazing creativity, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Erin Website: erinholmstead.com Instagram: @erinholmstead Facebook: @erinholmsteadphoto Erin on Photofocus photofocus.com/author/erinholmstead

I have never had a photographer like Colin Finlay on this show. I have read his bio so many times today, and yet I am having trouble writing this post because describing him is not easy. Colin Finlay is one of the foremost documentary photographers and filmmakers in the world. He has has chronicled the human condition with compassion, empathy, and dignity. He has covered war and conflict, disappearing traditions, the environment in both its glory and its devastation, genocide, famine, religious pilgrimage and global cultures. He has circled the globe twenty-seven times, reaching as far as Antarctica, the Arctic Circle and 95 incredible countries in-between. As far as recognition, Colin has been blessed with many awards and accolades, from Tiffany Crystal Eagles, and Emmy nods to a Knighthood. As you would expect, when someone is as talented as Colin in one area of creativity they are also gifted in other areas. Colin Finlay is also a multi-instrumental musician, and he uses his photography to create amazing mixed media art pieces. That’s where we travel today. Join photographer and artist Colin Finlay and me as we discuss his amazing career, and how he made this amazing image, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Colin Website: colinfinlay.com Instagram: @colinfinlay Facebook: @colinfinlayphotographer

Roberto Valenzuela is one of the most sought after wedding photographers in the industry. An artist in every sense of the word, Roberto is in that rare group of photographers know as Canon Explorer’s of Light, along with artists such as Rick Sammon, Lindsay Adler, Joel Grimes, Peter Hurley, and more. Looking through his website gives you a sense of why he is so in demand. His portfolio is a never ending stream of artistry, and his about page is inviting and personal. I now want to ask my wife to marry me again, just so we can get pictures from Roberto Valenzuela! Roberto has the ability to tell a story with light like very few others. It’s as though the light enters the room, stops for a moment, and then asks him what it should do. Seriously, it’s amazing to see the results of someone with the knowledge he has. Roberto limits himself to 20 weddings a year, so that he can maintain the attention to detail and quality his clients deserve. That says a lot about how he sees his craft. He was a professional concert classical guitarist and educator before becoming a photographer, and he brings that discipline to his photographic work and education. With the mindset that “it is not talent but, deliberate practice that is at the core of skill and achievement” he has traveled the world motivating and educating photographers. He helps people break down the various elements of photography in order to master them through goal setting, self-training, and constant dedication. The knowledge that Roberto brings to his art, and his teaching, serves him well as a chair or judge for some of the largest photographic print competitions in Europe, Mexico, South America, and the most celebrated International photography competitions held in the United States through the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) in Las Vegas, NV. You’ll often find Roberto at a photography convention teaching a private workshop, seminar, or platform class. Having been an International first place winner three times, and nominated by his peers as one of the ten most influential photographers and educators in the world, you’ll find those conference sessions are always full. Speaking of conferences, Roberto is also one of the instructors of the Photo Creators Conference & Experience. This event features Roberto covering On and Off camera flash, and flash modifiers. Joining him as instructors at the conference are Joel Grimes, a fellow Canon Explorer of Light, and Nikon Ambassadors Jen Rozenbaum and Rocco Ancora. You can check out details at the link below. Taking his wedding photography expertise, and merging it with his education skills, Roberto’s first book “Picture Perfect Practice” is a #1 best seller on Amazon for the wedding photography book category. His second book “Picture Perfect Posing” is equally successful, as is “Picture Perfect Lighting”, which is at the top of charts for lighting books. His newest books, “Wedding Storyteller Vol 1: Elevating the Approach to Photographing Wedding Stories” and “Wedding Storyteller Vol 2: Wedding Case Studies and Workflow” are resources every wedding photographer should read. In fact the cover of “Wedding Storyteller Vol 2” is the image we talk about on this show! It’s no wonder his books can be found in bookstores worldwide, and have been translated into numerous languages. With over 100 International awards for his wedding portrait photography, and having been named to the Top 50 Wedding Photographers in the World by Junebug Weddings, Roberto is in demand. For many years he has been featured on the exclusive “Platinum List” of hand-selected photographers by Grace Ormonde, the editor in chief of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine. To close this post out I want to share a few things from Roberto’s about page…. Roberto has degrees in economics, marketing, and international business. (Yes, I am clearly not living up to my potential.) He loves a good hot sauce – so at least he and I have something in common. And most importantly…he “still get[s] nervous before photographing every wedding”. Join world renowned wedding photographer and Canon Explorer of Light Roberto Valenzuela and me as we discuss his process for creating such amazing artistic wedding images, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Roberto Website: robertovalenzuela.com Instagram: @roberto_photo Facebook: Roberto Valenzuela Weddings The Photo Creators Conference & Experience thephotocreators.com Roberto’s Workshops Website: robertovalenzuela.com/workshops Roberto’s Books Amazon: amazon.com/Roberto-Valenzuela/e/B008K83308

At the end of February in Las Vegas was WPPI 2020, and I had the chance to check out some new software, some new hardware, to make some new friends, and meet up with some old friends. If you have never been to WPPI, it’s a conference in Las Vegas focusing on wedding & portrait photography. Before you say something like “I don’t do weddings or portraits” let me explain. While it focuses on those two specialties, the conference and expo offer something for virtually any photographer. I’m a concert photographer and yet I always learn something to improve the band portraits or promo images I make, not to mention I always look for ways to improve my use of flash. The other big part of a conference like this is the social aspect. It was that social part that helped to make this WPPI the best I have attended. WPPI is held at Mandalay Bay, and it’s a great venue for a number of reasons. The classes, workshops, and photowalks cover a variety of subjects, from wedding, to posing, lighting, and business practices. This conference gets a great selection of instructors, and in past years there were some things that I was not a fan of, but this year was pretty solid. When I went into Peter Hurley‘s class I was expecting to stay for just a little bit to audit the class, but I ended up staying for the whole class. I had seen Peter present a number of times at places like Photoshop World, and I thought I knew what to expect, but I was wrong. This workshop was very in depth, with amazing tips, advice, and immediately usable techniques. Plus, Peter shared a number of special WPPI deals on some of the gear he uses. My favorite part was that he stressed that you can shoot headshots without buying the same gear as he uses. So often I see instructors just push their gear, but here I saw Peter really trying to help the audience, regardless of their gear or budget. I kinda want to sit through this class again. As always with these kind of shows, some of the best presentations are on the expo floor. Every major vendor has speakers, from Canon to Nikon, to Westcott and more. Peter Hurley also did a fantastic presentation at the Canon booth, along with Canon Explorers of Light Lindsay Adler, Joel Grimes, wedding photographers Bob and Dawn Davis and more. I could spend every day just walking around the expo. This year’s Expo felt smaller, and with the wide aisles it felt emptier. For me that made the conference more comfortable, but I can see that some vendors may not have liked it. The wide aisles meant that people just walked by the booths, when they may have stopped if the aisles were narrower. The vendor selection was varied enough, but not as wide as past years. As I mentioned above, the best part of any conference is the networking, and WPPI is no exception. I had the opportunity to run into a number of old friends, hang out with some great talent, and make new friends. If for no other reason go to WPPI for the social aspect. I have known Sharky James of the PetaPixel Podcast and Sharky’s Show for years, but WPPI this year was our first meeting. Same with Skip Cohen of Skip Cohen University. Skip does a few podcasts too, like Beyond Technique and Mind Your Own Business on the Photofocus network. I was also introduced to Erin Holmstead, and wow…. her work is awesome, plus she writes for Photofocus. I even ran into Brett Stanley, who was a guest on the show a few years ago. I even ran into the man himself, Scott Kelby at the Rocky Nook booth. This year I spent most of my time at the Canon booth chatting about the new EOS R, the EOS 1DX mk ii, and the recently announced R5. Unfortunately the R5 – a body I think I will want – was locked up under glass. Still, meeting Lindsay Adler, Joel Grimes, Peter Hurley, Terrell Lloyd, Bob and Dawn Davis, Roberto Valenzuela, Peter Read Miller, and more made the time well worth it. It’s interesting to see how these pros see the current line of products. Join me on this special Behind the Shot as I look back at the 2020 WPPI Conference and Expo, and talk to a few of the attendees.

To say that I am excited to have Deborah Sandidge on Behind the Shot is an understatement. Deborah is a photographic artist in every sense of the phrase. Specializing in world travel and artistic imagery she creates images that transcend time, and that transport you to places you wish you could visit. She blends the creative and technical aspects of photography together in a way that gives viewers a unique and fresh vantage point to the places she visits. Beyond her talented work, Deborah is in the rare group of photographers known as Nikon Ambassadors, along with Dave Black, Bambi Cantrell, Jerry Ghionis, Tamara Lackey, Moose Peterson, Todd Owyoung, and Joe McNally to name a few. Yeah, that’s pretty darn good company to be in. Along with being a working photographer, Deborah is an author and instructor, leading seminars and workshops. Join Nikon Ambassador Deborah Sandidge and me as we journey to the Valensole Plateau area of France to talk about long exposures and how to improve your travel photography, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Deborah Website: deborahsandidge.com Instagram: @debsandidge Facebook: @deborahsandidge Twitter: @DebSandidge Deborah’s Book on Amazon Digital Infrared Photography Deborah’s Articles for Shutterbug Shutterbug

Today’s guest on Behind the Shot is big deal to me. Ken Lee, along with being an accomplished photographer, is also a regular watcher, or listener, of Behind the Shot. My first recollection of Ken was when he won one of the Red River Paper Sample Packs I gave out, and then he also won the How to Build Real Influence e-course from Trey Ratcliff and Lauren Bath. As I usually do, I checked out Ken’s work at that time and made a mental note I wanted to get him on the show, but I got sidetracked. One of the downsides of only doing a show every two weeks is that potential guests back up quickly. Fast forward to January of 2020 and The NAMM Show in Anaheim CA. While I was there I met up with another Behind the Shot watcher (or listener – I really need to find an easier way to get through that variable), Mike Martin of Casio. Mike is great guy, and we had fun chatting in-between him actually working. Mike tagged me in a tweet to tell me about a friend of his that he thought would be a good guest on the show. This friend had just released a new book, and the cover image was awesome. When I saw the name on the cover I had to do a double take, it was Ken’s book! Picking the image for this show was easy, I had to do that cover shot. Ken Lee describes himself as a “night photographer”. I’ll let him explain that: “I drive long hours in a dusty car listening to weird music, stay out all night creating photos, get dirty, hang out with other creative sleep-deprived weirdos, see the stars drift across the sky, and always find the best taco stands.” Let me interrupt Ken for a second. I need to know the names of some those taco stands Ken. You need to write that up somewhere. Sorry for the break… back to Ken… “I have been exploring the Southwestern United States as well as parts of the East Coast for over six years, brandishing a camera, tripod, and colored flashlight. I especially love creating night photos of abandoned historical places, unique features, and beautiful landscapes. These are experiences that I absolutely cherish.” Along with that first book on night photography, “Abandoned Southern California: The Slowing of Time”, Ken is currently working on two more, also on night photos of abandoned locales. I mentioned Ken is an accomplished photographer, and I meant it. His images have appeared in outlets like NatGeo.com, National Geographic Books, Omni Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Westways Magazine, and numerous other publications. He’s also won numerous awards. Join Long Exposure, Night Sky, and Abandoned Site photographer and author Ken Lee to discuss the multi-shot image that graces the cover of his new book, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Ken Website: kenleephotography.com Instagram: @kenleephotography Facebook: @kenleephotography Flickr: @kenleephotography Twitter: @blueberrybuddha Ken’s Book on Amazon Abandoned Southern California: The Slowing of Time Gear & Apps Ken Mentions in the Show ProtoMachines LED Starry Landscape Stacker Sequator Lumenzia

Glyn Dewis. It honestly feels like that’s all I need to say, and you’ll immediately know who I mean. Glyn does so many different things, and they all seem to relate to photography. He’s on YouTube, where he shares his photography and post productions techniques. He’s an educator, with a number of popular classes on KelbyOne as well as being a member of the Photoshop World Dream Team instructors. He’s an author, with books including: The Photoshop Workbook Photograph Like a Thief The Photoshop Toolbox As a podcaster, Glyn co-hosts the popular He Shoots, He Draws, with Dave Clayton. This show is so good, and trust me, if you’re not subscribed to it you might want to rethink your life choices. I was honored, and a bit surprised, to be the guest back in Nov. of 2019 on episode 93. For my show it was just Dave and I because Glyn was off working on a very special project. That project brings us to today. While I am putting it at the end of this post, I really should have started the the fact that Glyn is one heck of a photographer. In fact after his presentations in Vegas back in 2017 he was named an Adobe MAX Master. He’s even been featured in the New York Times for a photography technique he calls ‘The Invisible Black Background’, which now I need to investigate. Glyn’s skill in portraiture is astounding, at that is the subject of this episode. That very special project Glyn is currently working on is called ‘The 39-45 Portraits Project’. It has gained international recognition and sees him creating timeless portraits of World War 2 Veterans across the UK. This is the type of project that changes people’s lives, both the photographer and the subjects. This is a self funded project motivated to present Veterans and their families with portraits they can treasure. In fact, Glyn is Ambassador of The Veterans Charity, an immediate needs support charity based in the UK. Join the amazing photographer Glyn Dewis and me as we discuss his 39-45 WWII Portraits Project, and explore how he made his image of WW II veteran, and MBE recipient Harry Billinge, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Glyn 39-45 Portraits Project: 3945portraits.com Website: glyndewis.com Portfolio: glyndewisphotography.com Facebook: @glyndewis Twitter: @glyndewis Instagram: @glyndewis YouTube: @glyndewis KelbyOne Glyn Dewis on KelbyOne Glyn’s Books Amazon: The Photoshop Workbook, Photograph Like a Thief, The Photoshop Toolbox

I first met USA Today’s tech journalist Jefferson Graham the same day I met Frederick Van Johnson. I drove out to watch him record his Talking Tech podcast, which is described on the site as “Your daily consumer tech news update, plus the latest gadget reviews and straight talk about how the latest tech innovations affect you, with USA TODAY’s Jefferson Graham”. His guests that day were Frederick and tech journalist Mark Gurman. Right away it was obvious that there was much more to Jefferson than just being a tech journalist and podcaster. His photography knowledge was front and center. Fast forward a good number of years and Jefferson is still doing the Talking Tech podcast, and a lot more. Jefferson Graham is a working photographer in the L.A. area, a writer, a podcast host, a video creator, and a darn good guitarist. His Photowalks travel photography series has taken his YouTube viewers all over Southern California, and then some. He has covered great locations, from Dana Point to Morro Bay, Cannon Beach, Oregon, Port Townsend, Washington, Madrid, Lisbon, and even all the way to Tokyo! Recently I had the pleasure of hosting Jefferson for one of his Photowalks series in my home town in Southern CA, and it was a blast. I was born and raised here, and yet I learned so much by doing the walk with him. Join all around creative Jefferson Graham and me as we discuss the benefits of doing a photowalk, and get a few tips, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Jefferson Website: jeffersongraham.net Blog: blog.jeffersongraham.com YouTube: @jeffersongraham Twitter: @jeffersongraham Instagram: @jeffersongraham Facebook: @jefferson.graham Podcast: Talking Tech USA TODAY: usatoday.com Jefferson Gallery of Photos from our Riverside, CA Photowalk Website: jeffersongraham.net Images From the Show

Everybody loves a good meal, and now-a-days it seems like everybody is posting photos of their food, but when food photography is done right you can seemingly taste it. That’s where Freddy Clark comes in. Freddy is a New Jersey based beverage and food photographer, and his images make me want to eat them. Getting to know Freddy has been somewhat of a flashback for me. I have been in radio for about 40 years, and I still am. When Freddy was fresh out of college he took that same path, as both an on-air personality and production director. After a decade of radio Freddy made a change, he went into tech, which is weird because I am an I.T. consultant “for a living”. The parallels between Freddy and myself keep going. His move to photography getting into his blood came with the birth of his daughter, while mine was when I started photographing my son when he was in high school. Once into photography Freddy tried out various genres including portraiture, landscapes, street photography, and he even shot weddings for a few years. When he was asked to photograph food for a local restaurant he was hooked. Beverages was a logical addition to the skill set because he was into craft beer. Through Santé Beverage & Food Photography Freddy is now living his passion. He has also moved into the education space, doing his own workshops as well as teaching for Canon and Visions Workshops. Join food and beverage photographer Freddy Clark and me as we take a deep dive into his photo of an Apple Tarte Tartin, and discuss how to make tastier photos, on this edition of Behind the Shot. Connect with Freddy Website: freddyclark.photography Twitter: @santephoto Instagram: @santephoto Cookbook with Freddy’s Photos on Amazon A Meal for All Seasons: Anton’s at the Swan

If you saw my review on this year’s Photoshop World, the Las Vegas edition, you may remember today’s guest. During that show I mentioned that my favorite part of any conference is the social aspect, the ability to meet seemly random people that end up becoming business associates, and often friends. This is the case with Dave Williams. During that week I was interviewing people at the show, and while standing in a hallway I asked two people if I could ask them some questions, and they kindly said yes. Before this chance meeting I was aware of Dave Williams, due to his work with KelbyOne, but I really didn’t know it was him when I asked for that interview. He was with Sian Elizabeth and they were so fun to talk with and interview. It was Sian’s first time at the event, and I quickly noticed Dave’s instructor badge. I had never really thought about Photoshop World instructors, like Dave, attending other people’s classes until that moment. Here’s a guy that is an amazing photographer, author, blogger and educator that is still hungry to learn more. That instantly struck me as the kind of person I want to learn from. Later that week I was lucky enough to be invited to a dinner being put on by Platypod. I knew there would be a selection of people from the show there, and Platypod is one of my favorite companies, but at that dinner I had another chance meeting with Dave and Sian. To be honest, I am always a bit uncomfortable at these types of events. I look up to the people there, people like Dave, and Dr T from Platypod, and Larry Becker etc, so I always feel like it was a mistake I was invited. By the end of the dinner I knew Dave was one of those people I looked forward to getting to know better over time. Just a great guy. If you ask Dave Williams, the Travel Photographer extraordinaire, about himself he will tell you he loves coffee and burgers. Let me go a bit deeper. Dave’s work has been featured in publications and campaigns for clients including Time, National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Forbes, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, Triumph, and Shell to name a few. You can find Dave’s tutorials and writings in various places, and I have the links below, but many will know him the same way I did, his class at KelbyOne, his writings for Photoshop User Magazine and ScottKelby.com, and through Photoshop World. Join renowned travel photographer Dave Williams and me as we chat about capturing not only the Aurora Borealis, but the night sky too, and this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Dave Website: idavewilliams.com Facebook: @idvaewilliams Twitter: @idvaewilliams Instagram: @idvaewilliams KelbyOne Dave Williams on KelbyOne Dave’s Aurora Book Amazon: The Complete Aurora Guide: for Travelers and Photographers TipSquirrel tipsquirrel.com/author/dave-williams/

I often get suggestions for guests from viewers / listeners. When that happens I usually check out the photographer they suggested, and if I think they are a good fit for the show I reach out. Sometimes I hear back, and sometimes I don’t. In the case of today’s guest I am really glad she did. Twyla Jones is Family and Couples photographer from Florida that was suggested by Sherra Maneri, or at least I am pretty sure that’s who it was, I can’t find the original message. When I went to check out Twyla’s work I immediately wanted her on the show. Her work in this genre is so unique. She has a knack for shapes, and color, and motion that I rarely see in that world. I was also struck by her path to photography, a path I am seeing more and more these days. As an example, I was (and still am) an IT Consultant that transitioned into photography. My friend Matthias Hombauer was a molecular biologist that decided to give it all up to follow his dream of concert photography. Twyla Jones was a histologist at a pathology lab that wanted to spend more time with her family and traveling. Lucky for us, her husband suggested she ditch the phone for a real camera, and now she travels the world following her passion. Twyla is not only a working photographer, but she’s also an educator. She has two online workshops, one for marketing and one for editing, and she offers mentoring in subjects ranging from live shoots to editing, posing, business, marketing and more. Join Twyla Jones and me as we jump into the world of family and couples photography, while examining her amazing minimalist portrait of a couple going to bed. Connect with Twyla Portfolio: twylajones.com Education & Mentoring: emotionalstorytelling.com Instagram: @somethingrad Facebook Page: @twylajonesphotography Facebook Group: @emotionalstorytelling Twyla’s Workshops Embracing the Storm Navigate the Wild

This episode is a huge deal for me. Today on Behind the Shot I get to talk with Chris Rainier, and Chris is the first working National Geographic photographer I have had on the show. As I am writing this, a few days before recording with Chris, I am nervous. Chris Rainier is the best of the best. His new book MASK is something every photographer should check out, but more on that later. Chris is a National Geographic Society EXPLORER and documentary photographer/filmmaker, and he is highly respected for his documentation of endangered cultures and traditional languages around the globe. His accomplishments are outstanding. He is the Director of The Cultural Sanctuaries Foundation – a global program focused on preserving Biodiversity and Traditional Cultural Knowledge. During his continued tenure with the National Geographic Society he has been the co-founder and co-director of both the Enduring Voices Language Project and Director of the All Roads Photography Program, designed to support indigenous groups with modern technology desiring to document their traditional culture and create sustainable solutions to preserve the planet in the 21st Century. In addition, as a NG Fellow he was an Editor for NG Traveler focused on documentation of traditional culture. In 2002 Chris was awarded the Lowell Thomas Award by the Explorers Club for his efforts on cultural preservation, and in 2014 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society of London/UK -specializing in cultural preservation. Chris has completed photographic projects for the United Nations, UNESCO, Amnesty International, Conservation International, the Smithsonian Institution, Time Magazine, the New York Times, LIFE Magazine, and the National Geographic Society. Rainier has photographed global culture, conflict, famine, and war in such places as: Somalia, Sarajevo/Bosnia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Iraq for TIME Magazine, – and for NPR Radio. As an educator he lectures around the Globe for organizations such as TED Global, Aspen IDEAS Festival, The United Nations, National Geographic, Google, Apple , Samsung, and the Royal Geographic Society. In the early 1980’s Chris Rainier was Ansel Adams’ last photographic assistant. Stop and think about that for a moment. Chris was Ansel Adams’ assistant…. now you should start to understand the level of photographer I am talking about. During his tenure with the noted photographer- he worked with Mr. Adams to amplify the use of Art Photography as a social tool – helping to preserve threatened wilderness areas and National Parks. Rainier went on to collaborate with UNESCO and IUCN on a Global Project using photography to preserve endangered wilderness areas around the world. In 2019 Chris will be a judge at the ROAM Awards. ROAM is an organization that chronicles the “grandeur of outdoor adventure, the thrill of outdoor sports and of how these expeditions — when carried out mindfully and with purpose — transform us and nourish our relationships with the earth, and each other”. The judging panel is a collection of photographers that will blow your mind. Along with Chris you’ll see Chase Jarvis, Ron Dawson, Maria Coffey, Travis Rice and more. Rainier’s photography and books have been widely shown and collected by museums around the world, including the Australian Museum in Sydney, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the International Center of Photography in New York, the George Eastman House International Museum in Rochester, New York, The National Geographic Society, and the United Nations. That brings us to his book MASK. This book is a culmination of years of work. According to the book website: “For over thirty years, Chris has been in search of the meaning of the mask. What began as a thorough visual documentation of the traditional mask rituals of New Guinea developed into a voyage of discovery that took him around the globe photographing traditional mask traditions. From the steppes of Mongolia to the jungles of South America, from the deserts of West Africa to the continent of India and the high Himalayan mountain monasteries of Tibet and Bhutan, from Day of the Dead Festivals in Mexico to the lands of the First Nation tribes of North America and from Sri Lanka to modern Europe, Chris has documented hundreds of different rituals of the tradition of the mask, both on still film and video” The images in this book are amazing. Chris sent me a few high resolution copies, and the amount of detail and color are something I am not sure I’ve ever seen. Join world renowned National Geographic photographer Chris Rainier and me as we discuss documenting traditional cultures, and one of the images from his new book MASK, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Chris Website: chrisrainier.org MASK Book: maskjourney.com MASK Review on CNN Photographer documents world’s most dramatic ritual masks ROAM Media ROAM Media

Listen to these numbers, or I guess read them makes more sense… over 35 years as a staff and contract photographer for Sports Illustrated, with over 100 Sports Illustrated covers. That is the resume of Peter Read Miller. Peter has been photographing athletes, events and the sporting life for more than 40 years, and Sports Illustrated is just the tip of the arrow (the arrow reference will come back again in a second). Peter Read Miller’s editorial clients have included: Time, Life, People, Money, The Associated Press, Playboy, Runner’s World, Newsweek, USA Weekend and The New York Times. He’s 9 Olympic Games, 41 Super Bowls, and shot 14 NBA Finals. He has covered the Stanley Cup Finals, the World Series, the Kentucky Derby, the NCAA Basketball Final Four, and the Men’s and Women’s World Cup Soccer Finals. Peter is one of those rare few that define what a real working pro photographer is. His advertising clients have included Canon, Nike, Microsoft, TD Ameritrade, Western Digital, Adidas, Visa, Coca-Cola, Footlocker, ABC Television, Panasonic, and The National Football League. On the education side of things is where you’ll often find Peter today. He has been teaching Sports Photography workshops for over 15 years at locations including Denver, Atlanta, Phoenix, Santa Clara, Knoxville, Las Vegas and Honolulu. Peter is also a sought after speaker, having spoken at the Los Angeles Chapter of the Advertising Photographers of America, Photoshop World, Imaging USA, CES and PDN’s Photo Plus East. He has also lectured at numerous colleges, universities and professional photographic organizations. When you have a body of work like Peter, the recognitions are everywhere. He has been the subject of articles in Photo District News, American Photographer, Digital Photo Pro, Rangefinder Magazine and Shutterbug. He was the 2006 winner of The Dave Boss Award of Excellence Photographer of the Year, awarded by The Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he is also the winner of the Society of Professional Journalists 2012 Award for Sports Photography. Oh yeah, and then there’s the fact that he is a Canon Explorer of Light, a distinction he has had for over 25 years. If you want to see more of Peter Read Miller’s work, try and find a copy of his book “Peter Read Miller on Sports Photography”. It’s was out of print at the time of this recording, but it might out again though a new publisher soon. Join legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Peter Read Miller and me as we take a deep dive into his iconic shot of a flaming arrow lighting the Olympic Cauldron at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Connect with Peter Portfolio: peterreadmiller.com Facebook: Peter Read Miller Sports Photography Workshop Instagram: @peterreadmiller Twitter: @prm_mb YouTube: On Sports Photography with Peter Read Miller Peter’s Nov 2019 Las Vegas Sports Photography Workshop Viva Las Vegas – PRM Sports Photography Workshop in Las Vegas

I have been sitting here trying to write this post about my guest and can’t figure out where to start. Do I start with the fact he’s America’s Most Celebrated Wedding Photographer? Or maybe I start with the many TV appearances, or the books… or maybe the awards and accolades. When you have a guest like Denis Reggie, just getting the first sentence typed out is tough, very tough. Denis Reggie is arguable the best wedding photographer on the planet, and that’s not me saying that, it’s American Photo. When they did a cover story on The Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World, Denis Reggie topped their list. Wow. Denis is a legend in the world of wedding photography, have pioneered his art and naming it wedding photojournalism. His images are like no other wedding photos you’ll see. His website sums it up best: ” With quiet anticipation and discovery, photographer Denis Reggie intuitively documents the most revealing and poignant wedding scenes without subject awareness of his camera or intent.” He even dresses as a guest so he can blend in as he moves around looking for the shot to develop naturally. I absolutely love this concept. Here’s another quote from his site: “We quietly capture authentic wedding moments knowing that people look best when unaware of the camera and just being themselves.” Let me tell you a bit more about Denis… he’s well know for his work as the Kennedy family wedding photographer, but let’s go deeper. Denis is a a Canon Explorer of Light, he has been featured on The BBC, China Television’s Art & Celebrity Channel, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Oprah, VH1, CNN, and Fox. Hold on, I’m just getting started here… His wonderful images have been on the covers of LIFE, People and Elle France magazines and named among Photographs of the Year by People, LIFE, Time, and Newsweek. And then there is the client list… sit back and read for a while… Designer Tory Burch; Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell; ER television star Noah Wyle; Eagles singer/songwriter Don Henley; actor Chris O’Donnell; designer Vera Wang for her New York wedding; former U.S. Senators Howard Baker and Nancy Kassebaum; designer Reed Krakoff; Metromedia president John Kluge; Forrest Gump producer and New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch; civil rights activist Martin Luther King III; Sony Music president Tommy Mottola; author and Vanity Fair writer Dominick Dunne; famed Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski; John Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette; author Tom Clancy; football great Frank Gifford; actor and philanthropist Paul Newman; Vice President Al Gore for wedding of daughter Karenna Gore; Home Depot co-founder and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank; financier Saul Steinberg; beauty expert and Allure editor Linda Wells; ABC News anchor Peter Jennings; Oprah Winfrey; actress Carey Lowell; Teresa Heinz Kerry; television’s Catherine Crier; cable television magnate Ted Turner; Secretary of State John Kerry; designer Lisa Frank; television anchor Campbell Brown; New Line Cinema CEO Michael Lynn; CBS News correspondent and longtime Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer; models’ agent Eileen Ford; Warner Music’s Edgar Bronfman, Jr.; heiress Christina Getty; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis for the wedding of daughter Caroline Kennedy; ABC’s Roone Arledge; Limited founder Leslie Wexner; NBA basketball sensation Dominique Wilkins; pop singer/songwriter Mariah Carey; political strategists Mary Matalin and James Carville; Coca-Cola CEO Neville Isdell; actress Holly Hunter; Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith; All-Pro NFL linebacker Keith Brooking; billionaire industrialist David Koch; Backstreet Boys lead singer Brian Littrell; Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley; hotelier Rand Araskog; bridal designer Anne Barge; socialite Tinsley Mortimer; American Idol’s Paula Abdul; football legend Fran Tarkenton; author Nancy Friday; then-Wall Street Journal editor Norm Pearlstine; actor Emilio Estevez; basketball star Shareef Abdur-Rahim; Grammy-winning producer Matt Serletic; Gannett CEO Douglas McCorkindale; Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger; Academy Award® winning Spielberg cinematographer Janusz Kaminski; designer Kenneth Cole; Alexandra Miller and Prince Alexandre von Fürstenberg; singer/songwriter James Taylor; past New York Governor Mario Cuomo; current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo; Coca-Cola president Donald Keough; NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle; actor James Garner; television personality Leeza Gibbons; Ethel Kennedy; actress Susan Lucci and more. Denis Reggie is a unique artist.. part photographer, part story teller, and part journalist. Join Wedding Photographer Denis Reggie and me as we discuss wedding photojournalism, and take a close look at his iconic image of John Kennedy, Jr. kissing the hand of his bride Carolyn Bessette, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with De

When it comes to photography podcasts, The Candid Frame is one of the best there is. It is constantly on a a list somewhere, like the new list from PHLEARN of “The Best Podcasts for Photographers“. The reason for that, or at least the reason I believe that is the case, is because of it’s host Ibarionex Perello. Ibarionex is many things, an L.A. photographer specializing in people and street photography, an educator and author, but for many his name is synonymous with photography podcasting. The Candid Frame episode #1 was released way back in February of 2006…. think about that. Did you even know what a podcast was back then? At the time of this show he is on episode #482. Wow. That my friends is the stuff of legends. What I hope to do is introduce you to an Ibarionex you may not know as well, the photographer. Ibarionex knows photography, and looking through his work is a study of light and shape. He has authored six books on the subject including Chasing the Light: Improving Your Photography Using Available Light, 5D Mark III From Snapshot to Great Shots, and Adobe Master Class: Photoshop. His latest book is Making Photographs: Developing a Personal Visual Workflow. Ibarionex is a master at the interview, but because of that I think some people miss the artist. Let’s fix that today. Join photographer, writer, educator and podcaster Ibarionex Perello and me as we take a look at how he captures such fun portraits, like the one we discuss on this show of the wonderful Dick Van Dyke, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Ibarionex The Candid Frame Podcast: thecandidframe.com Portfolio: ibarionex.net Instagram: @ibarionex Facebook: @ibarionex Twitter: @ibarionex YouTube: The Candid Frame Books: ibarionex.net/books-dvds

Photoshop guru Aaron Nace was born on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, which in and of itself is a reason to get to know him. Kauai is one of my favorite places, and in fact I was there just about two months before writing this. Try to imagine what it might be like to grow up on an island of forests, waterfalls, and wild chickens – lots of chickens. This environment sets a stage for childhood adventures and imagination, and the young Aaron set out to build forts deep in the jungle, explore the cliffs and waterfalls, and yes, to chase the wild chickens. As beautiful as Hawaii is, and it really is wonderful, life would have Aaron and his family pursue a different path. After moving to the mainland, in North Carolina, Aaron grew up to be a creative, studying Industrial Design at North Carolina University, and picking up some Photoshop skills. His plan was to pursue a career in automotive or furniture design, but again… life intervened. Aaron took a six month trip to South America with a point-n-shoot camera and found himself exploring once again. Documenting this trip, and the ability to share those adventures through his photos, was a key moment in Aaron becoming the creative he is today. Aaron’s career-to-date has had a number of these milestones. From a 365 day self-portrait project that became a hit on Flickr, to deciding to share his techniques on YouTube, Aaron developed a following as he freely shared his skills. This path, from explorer, to student, to explorer and teacher were the foundation for something even bigger. In 2011, Aaron founded PHLEARN to bring free, creative education to anyone around the world. Aaron Nace is part photographer, part composite genius, part industrial designer, and 100% teacher. I know, those add up to more than 100%. As practical as Aaron’s background is reality isn’t necessarily part of it. His images span from fashion to strange, imaginative, surreal fantasy, all in the same image. PHLEARN now has over 500 tutorials, and 1.5 million YouTube subscribers. The end of his bio sums up life so well: Keep it simple Keep it weird Enjoy the adventure And never stop learning Join the immensely creative photographer, artist, and photoshop wizard Aaron Nace and me as we discuss the keys to a great composite, how to find your own artistic voice, and how he made his wonderful image “Baxter”. Discount Code for PHLEARN Aaron has offered any Behind the Shot viewers / listeners a 20% discount off a PHLEARN subscription! Just use the code: behindtheshot20 during sign up. Connect with Aaron Portfolio: aaron-nace.com PHLEARN Website: phlearn.com Photoshop Tutorials: phlearn.com/photoshop-tutorials Lightroom Tutorials: phlearn.com/lightroom-tutorials Facebook: @Phlearn Twitter: @phlearn Instagram: @phlearn YouTube: @phlearn PHLEARN article mentioned in this episode Website: The Best Podcasts for Photographers Behind the Scenes Shots from the Show More of Aaron’s Work

Back in August the Photoshop World Conference hit Las Vegas again for a week of fun, games, workshops and classes. I am really glad I went this year. For the last few years Photoshop World had called Mandalay Bay home, and this year that changed to The Mirage. The event center there is much more fitting for Photoshop World, with the classes and expo area much closer together. Starting with the Orientation, presented by Larry Becker this year was a blast. The Keynote was an unexpected special event, as Scott Kelby was surprised by being inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame. He seemed wonderfully surprised, and as moved as can be. My question was “wait…. Scott Kelby wasn’t already in the Hall of Fame”? This was well deserved, and way overdue. The classes hit home for me this year. I have heard people say in the past that felt the classes were not complex, or advanced enough. This year I found the advanced classes I attended, like the masking class from Kristina Sherk, very good. The Lightroom Printing class, taught by Scott Kelby, was exactly what I’d hoped for too. Overall, the education side of this conference was right where it should be, and in this episode I interview a few attendees that seemed to agree with me. One of them had an interesting suggestion for the conference moving forward too. The expo area was big enough, and well lit, but did feel much smaller this year, which was too bad. I have spent entire days just wander the expo floor talking to people, but that didn’t work so well with the smaller booth and vender setups. Still, some of my favorite companies were there, like B&H Photo, Platypod, and more. There were some pretty cool booths setup specifically for photo opportunities too, like Gilmar Smith’s prison cells, which were a big hit. The best of any conference is the networking, and PSW is no exception. I had the opportunity to run into to old friends, hang out with some great talent, and make new friends. If for no other reason go to PSW for the social aspect. Speaking of friends, a big congrats to my buddy Dustin Jack on the Photoshop Guru Award win. If you have not been to a Photoshop World Conference before, I can recommend it. I had a lot of fun this year, and plan on going back as often as it hits Vegas., Join me on this special Behind the Shot as I take a look back at the 2019 Photoshop World Conference in Las Vegas. Links from the Show Photoshop World: photoshopworld.com KelbyOne: kelbyone.com Platypod: platypod.com A few memories from Photoshop World

My first introduction to Juan Pons was on The Digital Photo Experience podcast, with Rick Sammon. I listened to that show regularly, partly because I could hear the passion for the craft that both hosts had. Fast forward to today and my podcasting has come full circle. Instead of listening to these two guys on a show, I’ve had Rick on Behind the Shot four times, and finally Juan is on the show. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Juan’s passion is photographing our worlds magnificent wildlife and natural features. A strong supporter of wildlife and natural habitat conservation, Juan is a member of several conservation organizations. Though private individuals purchase photos directly from him, Juan donates his images to non-profit organizations with nature and wildlife preservation missions. Juan is clearly inspired and amazed by the natural subjects he photographs and in sharing his photographs he inspires others to appreciate and respect natural life. Part photographer, part educator, and with more than 30 years experience in photography, Juan is a recognized expert in Wildlife Photography, Lightroom and on maximizing the capabilities of DSLRs when shooting video. He travels extensively capturing nature’s beauty, and for more than 18 years he’s been teaching photography, both out in the field and in the classroom. Juan’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including: Sierra Magazine, Nature Conservancy, Audubon Magazine, American Photo, Audubon North Carolina, Wildlife in North Carolina, The Independent, and many others. Along with the numerous popular photography podcasts Juan has helped to create, and he also has a YouTube channel about all things photography. Join nature and wildlife photographer Juan Pons and me as we discuss photographing wildlife in less than friendly elements, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Juan Website: juanpons.org Instagram: @jpons Facebook: @juanpons Juan Online YouTube: @juanpons Workshops: juanpons.org

I first heard about Andy Day back in April of 2019. Periodically I am a guest on my friend Don Komarechka’s Photo Geek Weekly podcast, and we covered a story Andy had written for Fstoppers – and let me say, please check out Don’s podcast, it’s fantastic. Knowing Andy was finally going to be on Behind the Shot I decided to look back to see what I had in my notes about him from that show. The story titled “Five Reasons Why You’ll Never Earn Good Money as a Photographer”, and here is what I wrote at the top of my notes: “I looked up the author Andy Day — LOVE HIS WORK, AND WANT HIM ON Behind the Shot!” Yeah, I over research a bit sometimes, like searching out the author’s website when I like a story. In Andy’s case the results were awesome. He’s an internationally published photographer specializing in adventure sports, travel, architectural and landscape photography, but it’s the way he combines those in a single show that is so impressive. His website describes it by saying that his work “examines the body’s relationship with the built environment, willful misuse of architecture, subversive practices, appropriation of space and place, edgework and social interaction”. I simply describe it as being unique as hell. Andy captures landscapes, with structures in them, and with people climbing them as though it’s some sort of Parkour course. Ans all of these components come together to form a cohesive story. It’s like if American Ninja Warrior had a photographer, and then the show was filmed using old abandoned monuments in some out of the way place in the Balkan wilderness. What’s so fascinating to me that Andy has a formal photography education, having received an MA in photography from Goldsmiths. He is also a speaker, teacher, and as I mentioned above a great writer (which makes sense when you see that his BA was in English Literature and American Studies. His client list includes companies like American Eagle, Jack Wolfskin, Gravis, Ecko Unlimited, Canon, Dairy Crest, and Yota. His work has been published in magazines and newspapers around the world, including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Stuff, Front, Zoo, and Men’s Fitness, and again….. he’s a senior writer for Fstoppers. Andy is one half of Landmann Studios, a partnership with conceptual artist Diego Ferrari, teaching workshops and short courses about photography, the body and urban space. In recent years, Andy has taught short courses at Central St Martins, London, and a series of workshops for the Royal Institute of British Architects in conjunction with The Barbican. You’ll even find him parkour training events where he speaks and runs workshops on photography, urban space, and commercialisation, as well as teaching people how to climb buildings. Join adventure sports photographer, educator, and author Andy Day and me as we discuss how he captures the relationship between urban climber and architecture, along with the power of long term photo projects, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Andy Portfolio: andyday.com Instagram: @kiellgram Twitter: @kiell

Let me warn you, this is a printer review, but a lot more than that. I intended this show to be about 30-45 minutes, but yeah, didn’t work out that way. Even after finishing the sessions I did, I tried to edit it down, but in watching it back I just felt the info was useful. If it helped me, then I thought it might help you too, so I am leaving everything in, To help, I am including time stamps below so that you can directly jump to any of the four segments you want to see. I hope you enjoy the review, and here is an explanation of how a simple review turned into something much deeper. Back in February of 2019 I was at WPPI in Las Vegas, and I was at the Canon booth interviewing them about the EOS R and other new products. While there, I got into a conversation Canon’s Jim Booth about printers. During that chat I explained that I am big advocate for printing your images. There is something magical about holding a physical print, a feeling you just don’t get holding a smart phone or table, let alone seeing an overly compressed image on those social media platforms – yes, Facebook, I mean you. At that time I owned a Canon Pixma PRO-100 printer, which I mostly liked. Jim suggested I would like an imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 much more, and he offered to send me one for testing and review. For the purpose of a review I wanted to be sure I was free to say anything I wanted, good or bad, so I offered to send to printer back when I was done, but was told I could keep it regardless. For me, being able to fully honest is the key, and them telling me to keep it no matter what was interesting…. it seemed like they already knew what I would think. During the setup, test prints, and testing of the user experience I quickly realized how little I knew about printing. This would be my third photo printer, but I was clearly in need of some additional info. I could read the specs to you all day long, but you could read those yourself, not to mention that there are a ton of reviews based on specs. I wanted to go more towards the real world experience of using a printer in this pro category vs a more prosumer product. That’s when I decided to get Jim on to give an explanation of the feature of the PRO-100, going beyond specs alone, and even just talking about the pro printer world as a whole. One other area I wanted more info on came up during the test print phase of the review. I printed all the test images on both my Pixma PRO-100 and the imagePROGRAF PRO-1000, and on one specific photo something weird happened. I printed it to a matte paper, but on the PRO-1000 it came out looking completely different, and it even had a sheen to it. So while the PRO-100 copy was the expected flatter appearance, the PRO-1000 copy had a much more noticeable pop of color. It took me a bit to reverse engineer why, and I realized that the paper type selection suggested for that paper on the PRO-1000 most likely caused the printer to use the Chroma Optimizer. That made me really start looking at my test papers, the suggested settings for those papers, and why I was using those papers with a specific image. I needed a paper expert, which led me to contact Drew Hendrix, the President of Red River Paper. Drew and I spent good amount of time talking about the role paper plays in being satisfied with a print. Please join me as we try to get a better understanding of printers and paper, along with a review of the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000. Segment Times Unboxing: 2:30 Canon Interview: 5:15 Red River Paper Interview: 28:44 Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 Review: 1:05:47 Light Stalking The Best Photo Printer in 2019 And Why You Will Want This One Print Cost Table (Choose a Paper Size): 8 x 10 8.5 x 11 9 x 13 13 x 19 (A3+) Shipping MPIX Photo Print: $2.79+ MPIX Giclee Gloss: $3.73 MPIX Giclee Fine Art: $5.09 Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000: $1.50 – $1.80 MPIX Photo Print: $3.66+ MPIX Giclee Gloss (8 x 12): $5.98 MPIX Giclee Fine Art (8 x 12): $6.61 Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000: $1.50 – $1.80 MPIX Photo Print (9 x 12): $4.82+ MPIX Giclee Gloss (10 x 13): $9.36 MPIX Giclee Fine Art (10 x 13): $11.56 Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000: $1.95 – $2.00 MPIX Photo Print (12 x 18): $13.32+ MPIX Giclee Gloss (12 x 18): $22.49 MPIX Giclee Fine Art (12 x 18): $26.14 Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000: $3.90 – $4.30 MPIX Economy: $3.95 MPIX Standard 2 Day: $7.95   Test Images Northlight Images Test Image for Black and White Printing Datacolor Test Image from Northlight Images Images Referenced in the Show

Saying that David Dewhurst has been at photography for most of his life is an understatement. By the age of 15 he was he was already a working pro, getting to paid by national magazines to shoot what he loved – motorcycles. While that was a lesson on it’s own, David loved photography so much that he pursued a formal education as well. He attended a three year course on Industrial and Commercial photography at Blackpool College of Technology in norther England, and that’s where he learned the subtle art of being and capturing controlled images. That combination of real world and formal training took David to his first full-time job, as the beat photographer for a regional newspaper. In those days prior to TTL Metering, or TTL flash David learned to be prepared for anything, and in those days we didn’t have autofocus either! Thinking carefully about his exposure, learning how to get the most out of a flash by bouncing it, and taking control of a shoot were just a few of the on-the-job lessons. Always having a plan was another. David knew what he really wanted to photograph, he wanted to get back to motorcycles, so he convinced the newspaper’s owners to actually start a national weekly newspaper about off-road motorcycling. They did, and he was the technical editor, bike tester, and photographer for five years. That drive would land him at Cycle Guide magazine in California, but that paper he started some dirty years ago is still going strong. Today, David is a sought after pro, with a successful business in LA, shooting what he has always been passionate about – motorcycles and cars. That passion, and understanding of the subject, informs his every shot. David has had magazine clients that included Car and Driver, Cycle World and Cycle, and his corporate clients included all the major players including Honda, Toyota, Lexus, BMW and Yamaha. Part of what sets David apart from the rest is that drive we discussed earlier. If he needs a piece of gear to get a shot, but the gear doesn’t actually exist…. he makes it. He even built a 3-axis gyro, with heavy mechanical gyros, to get better car-to-car action, and he built a twenty-foot geodesic arm to rigidly mount a camera out in front of a car! But wait, there’s more… he built his own suspended arm to mount video cameras for high-speed action shots. David is the real deal. Join photographer David Dewhurst and me as we look at how he captures amazing car images, while they are moving, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with David Portfolio: dewhurstphoto.com Facebook: @dewhurstphoto Instagram: @daviddewhurst Twitter: @dewhurstphoto

This is our third of a continuing series in conjunction with Red River Paper. Red River Paper’s Education program helps photography students by providing high quality photo papers to photography education programs around the U.S. On each of these special shows my guest will be a photography student from one of the Red River Paper Education partner schools. Tied to each of these education episodes we will also do a limited time social media based giveaway of 10 Red River Paper Sample packs, with one of those winners also receiving a Grand Prize of a 13×19 print of the student’s image from that show. Details on the giveaway, and how to enter, can be found here. For this show, we are joined by documentary photographer Cheney Orr, who is a student at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York. Raised in Ny York City, Cheney knew he wanted to learn photography at a young age. At 15 he began studying at ICP, and just three years later he became a teaching assistant for teen and continuing education programming. As you look through Cheney’s Instagram feed you quickly realize he has the type of photographic eye you rarely see. He tells stories, and conveys a depth of feeling and emotion in his images. A trip to Ukraine in 2014, where he collected stories and portraits of the country’s youth immediately after the Euromaidan protests, would lead to a solo exhibition at the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City. Since 2014, he has freelanced, primarily working as a production assistant, photo assistant and construction contractor assistant. He is an alum of the 2017 Missouri Photo Workshop where he was the recipient of the Team Gilka Award. His first long-term photo essay, documenting his father’s struggle with early-onset Alzheimer’s, was published by​ ​The New York Times Lens Blog​ in January 2018. Additional work has appeared in the New York Times, Vice, Gothamist and Curbed New York. As the recipient of the Mary Ellen Mark Scholarship, he is currently a full-time student in the Documentary Practices and Visual Journalism program at ICP. Join documentary photographer Cheney Orr and me as we take a look at how to tell better visual stories, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Cheney Portfolio: cheneyorr.com Instagram: @orr_photo Facebook: @cheneyorrphoto LinkedIN: @cheneyorr International Center of Photography Photography Program: icp.org Red River Paper Premium Photo Paper Catalog: redrivercatalog.com

This show is the start of a contest to win a 6 week online course, from Trey Ratcliff and Lauren Bath, on “How to Build Influence”, the ultimate e-course for future influencers. See the rules here or in the links below. I am often asked what my favorite episode of Behind the Shot is, which is not an easy thing to answer. I have truly enjoyed each and every show, and I have had the honor of getting to ask questions, that I really want to know the answers to, of some of my heroes. There is one episode that stands out to me purely from a hosting point-of-view however, because I felt totally in over my head. Raise Your Dynamic Range with Trey Ratcliff Like many of my past guests Trey is a legend, yet you’d never know it speaking with him. He is kind, humble, and eager to share his with and help others. But Trey had me speechless at times. The part of the conversation on color theory was nothing short of fascination, and then there was a quote he said. For some reason, when Trey said this line it stopped me in my tracks. “Be alert, be astonished, share your astonishment.” Go back and read that again…. I can wait…. That line sums up what photography, actually all creativity, really should be. Trey is part photographer, part marketer, part teacher, part businessman, part social media icon, an amazing creative, a public speaker, and even an author…. his new book “Under the Influence – How to Fake Your Way into Getting Rich on Instagram: Influencer Fraud, Selfies, Anxiety, Ego, and Mass Delusional Behavior” is available on Amazon. He is one of the most influential photographers out there, and it’s easy to see why. His background is in Computer Science and Math, and his ability to see light, space, and color is beyond pretty much any other photographer I have met. In fact, the first HDR image to be hung in the Smithsonian was Trey’s ‘Fourth on Lake Austin’. Trey’s passion is catchy – in a good way. He still posts a photo a day, as he has done that for years, and listening to him talk about his work is a joy. I speak for a living, emceeing, radio, TV etc, and I am here to tell you that very few people have the talent to communicate a “feeling” – Trey does. It’s infectious. When it comes to photography, Trey is mostly know as an HDR guru, but what he does in the HDR arena is so unique. His images bring his world to life, in front of your eyes. There is such color and depth in his work. There is an unreal realism. Be sure to check out his Burning Man photos and you will feel like you’ve been there, which is a great segue into today’s show. Trey Ratcliff is back on Behind the Shot! Today it’s a subject matter that fascinates me. I have never been to Burning Man, but in my head Trey’s images define what it must be like. Join the amazingly talented Trey Ratcliff and me on this episode of Behind the Shot as we discuss documenting Burning Man. Connect with Trey Personal: stuckincustoms.com Portfolio: stuckincustoms.smugmug.com Facebook: @treyratcliff Instagram: @treyratcliff Twitter: @treyratcliff Trey Online Trey’s “Under The Influence” Instagram Book: amazon.com Large Format Prints: treyratcliff.com Workshops, Photowalks, and more: stuckincustoms.com/events YouTube: @stuckincustoms HDR Tutorial v 3.0: stuckincustoms.com/complete-hdr-tutorial Store: store.stuckincustoms.com “How to Build Real Influence” Contest Info Win a 6 Week Online Class from Lauren Bath and Trey Ratcliff: “How to Build Real Influence” Rules and contest info are here. The guy with the 1898 Kodak Bulls-Eye Camera – Samuel Coniglio The gentleman in Trey’s image is Samuel Coniglio, and not only does that 1898 Kodak Bulls-Eye camera actual work, I show the actual image he was taking here in the episode. I just want to say thanks to Sam for letting me use his image in the show. You can find out more about Sam by clicking here, and be sure to follow him on Flickr here. Be sure to check out Obtainium Works too, the makers of the Neverwas Haul.

I have to admit, I am at a loss for words – something my family would be happy about, but something that’s not great in this situation. This is a “pinch me” situation for me. I first heard of Scott Bourne on Leo Laporte’s MacBreak Weekly. He was a regular on the tech podcast, and as far as I knew that his main gig – a tech person. Periodically someone would mention his photography, but I was new to photography at the time and it just really never sunk in. Years later when I got into photography Scott had moved on from MBW and I stumbled upon a photo podcast of his. I remember thinking “is this the same Scott Bourne? It sounds like the Scott Bourne from MBW, but that Scott Bourne is also a world renowned photographer?”. Yeah, It was the same guy, and yeah, he is literally one of the best photographers on the planet. His bird photography is just amazing. Small world is right. From that moment I listened to every show Scott was on – Every. Show. He had a podcast with Rick Sammon, he started PhotoFocus, he worked with Skylum to greatly increase the footprint of Luminar in the photo world. I even won my first photo printer from Scott – a PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II – with a stack of Illford paper. So again, I’m at a loss of words on how to accurately sum up what it mans to have Scott on my show, let alone to describe Scott Bourne’s photography life in a blog post. Let me start here… Scott Bourne is an Olympus Visionary and professional wildlife photographer, and he’s an author and lecturer who specializes in birds. He’s been involved with photography for more than four decades and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications. He is a pioneer in the digital photography and online space, and was named one of the 30 most influential photographers on the Web by Huffington Post. In addition to being a trainer on lynda.com, Scott’s led workshops and seminars, taught for or spoken at conferences or events sponsored by Palm Beach Photographic Center, Cooperative Communicators of America, Apple, The National Association of Photoshop Professionals, CreativeLive.com, the National Association of Broadcasters, North American Music Merchants, MacWorld, Washington Professional Photographers Association, WPPI, PartnerCon, Imaging USA, Seattle Art Center, Marketing Essentials International, The Consumer Electronics Show, Photo Plus Expo, Festival of the Cranes, Florida’s Birding & Photo Festival and Olympic Mountain School of Photography. Are you starting to get the idea? Scott Bourne knows more about photography than I will ever know, and he is going to be on Behind the Shot. (Steve does a happy dance here that hopefully no one can see) Scott was one of the first photographers ever to receive the designation Apple Certified Professional Trainer (T3) for Apple’s Aperture. He also previously held the designation Certified Adobe Photoshop Instructor and Professional Photographers of America’s Certified Professional Photographer designation. Scott was recently awarded the designation Signed Master with the Studio Of Masters in China. Along with his namesake website scottbourne.com, Scott owns EaglePhotographs.com. If you want to lose a good part of your day looking at amazing photos go check those sites out. As I mentioned before, my introduction to Scott was through the lens of podcasting, and I am happy to say Scott is still at it. Scott is the publisher of PictureMethods.com, a photography education website that has a ton of great content, and along with the site he has launched the Picture Methods podcast which you can check out here. I was honored to be one of his early guests on that show in fact, and you can listen to that here. Join wildlife photographer and educator Scott Bourne and me as we take a deep dive into his bird photography by taking a close look how he captured a once-in-a-lifetime Cardinal image, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Scott Personal: scottbourne.com Eagle Photographs: eaglephotographs.com Instagram: @bourne.scott Facebook: @scottbourne Twitter: @scottbourne Flickr: @scottbourne LinkedIN: @scottbourne Scott’s Picture Methods Website and Podcast Picture Methods Website Picture Methods Podcast

I have had to describe Rick Sammon to people on a number of occasions, and it seems to get progressively harder the more I get to know him. This will Rick’s forth time on Behind the Shot, which is more than any other guest. The next closest is Don Komarechka with 3 times. Why do I enjoy having Rick on so much? Let’s see, Rick is a legend. Every time I met him, or talk with him, I am amazed at how much he enjoys what he does, his photography, educating photographers from amateurs to pros, and living life. Along with his wife Susan, Rick is honestly with one of the best there is, and I learn something every time we chat. Rick is an award winning photographer, and one of the members of the elite Canon Explorer of Light program. A tireless, prolific and inspirational image-maker, Rick, called by many “The Godfather of Photography,” is one of the most active photographers on the planet – dividing his time between creating images, leading photo workshops and seminars, and making personal appearances. His enthusiasm for digital imaging is contagious. He is a man on a mission – a mission to make digital photography fun, creative, exciting and rewarding for others. He even does private coaching. Yeah, private coaching from Rick Sammon. That would be awesome. And if you are looking for great video training, Rick has almost 20 classes on KelbyOne, not to mention a wonderfully personal interview he did with Kalebra Kelby (who in her own right is an amazing photographer that does stuff with an iPhone I wish I could do). I am always impressed how “Creative People” seem to be creative in many areas. Rick has authored more photography books than anyone I know. His recent book, “The Route 66 Photo Road Trip: How to Eat, Stay, Play, and Shoot Like a Pro”, is one I bought two copies of – one for me to use while driving to New Mexico, and one for the people we were visiting there. His latest book, co-authored by his wife Susan Sammon, and just released the day before this show went live, is “The Oregon Coast Photo Road Trip: How to Eat, Stay, Play, and Shoot Like a Pro“. You might see the connection there, both the Oregon and Route 66 books are not only photo books, but guide books. You have the opportunity to just sit back and watch the Sammon’s take a trip while enjoying their images, or to plan your own trip. They give you valuable tips for planning, what to take, apps that might come in handy, locations to see and more. For the photographers they give you shooting tips that you can use anywhere, even though they may be presented in relation to this trip. From panos to shutter speeds, this book will take you on the trip with them, or better yet inspire you to take your own. One of my favorite sections is “Susan’s Photo Tips for Smart Phone Cameras”. She shares techniques and apps that can help you go from snapshots to great shots. I first learned about Rick through his podcasting, and Rick has now teamed up with fellow KelbyOne instructor Larry Becker, for the Picturing Success podcast. I am honored to say that I have been a guest on the show twice, on shows 7 and 81, but don’t let that stop you… every show has guests giving valuable and inspirational information on achieving success. I asked Rick once how he describes his photography, and he answered “evolving,” I kinda dig that description. He even hesitates to categorize his work. He does it all, and enjoys the freedom of not specializing. With nearly 40 years of experience, this self-taught photographer has many accomplishments – and as Rick suggests, “When you are through changing, you are through”. One other thing needs to be said about Rick… as mentioned above Rick’s partner is his wife Susan. While Rick seems to get the bulk of the attention, Susan deserves her own. Behind every successful person there is often a spouse, or special person that helps push them, guide them, and in many ways drive the success. That is Susan. She is there on his workshops, and she is the co-author of these books. I am thankful Rick has such a talented partner and look forward to what these two do next. Join “The Godfather of Photography” Rick Sammon and me as we take a photography road trip though Oregon, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Rick Personal: ricksammon.com Instagram: @ricksammonphotography Facebook: @RickSammonPhotography Twitter: @ricksammon Rick’s Workshops, Seminars, and Coaching ricksammon.com Rick’s Books on Amazon Photo Quest: Discovering Your Photographic & Artistic Voice Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom: Discovering the Power of Pictures The Oregon Coast Photo Road Trip The Route 66 Photo Road Trip All of Rick’s Books on Amazon The Picturing Success Podcast, with Larry Becker Picturing Success Podcast Rick’s Classes on KelbyOne KelbyOne

I’ve been doing Behind the Shot for a few years now, and I am constantly being introduced to artists that just blow be away. Kelly Robitaille is one of those artists. After my recent “Pixel Alchemy” show with Renee Robyn, who is hands down one of the most talented people I know, Renee suggested I get Kelly on the show. Renee has suggested guests to me before, and she’s never been wrong. The first time was Anya Anti, another amazing digital artist, so when Renee names someone I listen. Kelly Robitaille is an award winning Canadian based commercial retoucher and photographer. It’s her deep skills as a retouching artist that first struck me, and that has her working for clients around the globe. She has done the retouch work on portraits of some Hollywood’s biggest stars. As I was looking through her work I came across her own work, from tradition to creative portraits, but the “Whimsical Waif” series leaped out at me. It’s photography meets digital artistry, meets retouching, all on a level I’ve rarely if ever sen. The series features portraits with exaggerated body form and large eyes, and yet somehow, on the most amazing level, they look real. I wanted to explore one of these images because they show not only great composite skills, but what can be done once you truly understand the elements, skills, and tools used in commercial retouching. Kelly has created a tutorial showcasing how she creates her work, as well as a texture pack with PRO EDU, and has had her artwork featured at the Gallery at KelbyOne. Her goal is to inspire others to step outside the box and to create work that pushes boundaries and tells a story. Join Photographer, artist, and elite retoucher Kelly Robitaille I me as we take a deep dive into her image “Fork You”, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Kelly Portfolio: kellyrobitaille.com Facebook: @kellyrobitaillephotography Instagram: @kellyrobitaille Kelly at PRO EDU Surreal Retouching with Kelly Robitaille Master Collection: 100 Custom Photoshop Textures

I first met Colin Smith a few years ago at WPPI in Las Vegas. We were both at an after hours party and starting about podcasting and YouTube. Colin’s PhotoshopCAFE page has over 143,000 subscribers that watch his Photoshop and Lightroom tutorials, which are honestly some of the best you’ll find. Mixed in with those lesson you’ll find his done photography. A best-selling author, and award-winning digital, Colin is known as a pioneer of HDR photography and aerial drone photography. Colin is founder of one of the world’s most popular Photoshop resource sites, PhotoshopCAFE.com, which boasts over 30 million visitors, and he has been nominated 2x for the Photoshop Hall of Fame. Colin’s skill set makes sense when you look at his background. He was formerly Senior Editor and Creative Director for a magazine, and has over 20 years of experience in the creative industry. As a commercial artist, his clients include Satcchi & Satcchi, Proctor & Gamble, Toyo Tires, Microsoft and several Hollywood entertainment companies. Colin’s official affiliations include Adobe MAX Master, DJI expert and X-Rite Coloratti Master. He is a regular columnist for Photoshop User magazine, and has been featured in most major imaging magazines including, Computer Arts, Macworld, Advanced Photoshop, Photoshop User, Shutterbug, After Capture, PSD Photoshop, Photoshop Creative, Digital Photographer, Web Designer magazine and a host of others. He has also consulted such companies as Adobe Systems, Edison International, Apple and Disney Studios. When it comes to his digital imaging work, he has been recognized with numerous awards, including, inclusion on Time Magazine’s 12 most beautiful photos of 2017, MacWorld Digital Design and 3 Guru awards at Photoshop World 2001 and 2002. He’s authored 20 books, including the best-selling How to Do Everything with Photoshop (McGraw-Hill/Osborne) and the award-winning Photoshop Most Wanted, as well as being prominently featured in the Hall Of Fame book, New Masters Of Photoshop and New Masters of Photoshop 2 (The only artist featured in both editions). His latest book is The Photographer’s Guide to Drones. As mentioned above, Colin is a fantastic video educator, and as such is also creator of the PhotoshopCAFE series of videos. In high demand across the United States, Colin has presented his Photoshop techniques to photographers and graphics professionals across the nation. He’s been a speaker at such conferences as Adobe MAX, Photoshop World, WPPI, Imaging USA, PPE, creativeLIVE Photoshop week, Flash Forward, NVision, PIDE, DL Expo, Creative Suite Conference, Cre8, Create Chaos, Deviant Art Summit and many more. In 2012 and 2013 Colin was the featured speaker and producer of 2 Multi-City Tours (Route CS6 and Destination CC) Sponsored by Adobe. Join PhotoshopCAFE’s founder, drone photography artist, and educator Colin Smith and me as we venture into HDR drone panos, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Colin Personal: photoshopcafe.com YouTube: @photoshopCAFE Facebook: @photoshopCAFE Instagram: @photoshopCAFE Twitter: @photoshopCAFE Colin’s PhotoshopCAFE Video Servies Personal: photoshopcafe.com/video

On this episode it’s the return of one of my most popular guests, Don Komarechka. Don is a nature, macro and landscape photographer from in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, and this will be his third appearance on Behind the Shot. In his first appearance we covered the topic Don is probably best know for, his snowflake photography. Yeah, you read that correctly… actual Snowflakes. You can see that show here: The Art of Snowflakes. For the second show he was on we decided to focus on a more common style of photography Don does, Macro photography. You can find that show here: Improve Your Macro Photography. From auroras to pollen, insects to infrared, much of Don’s photographic adventures help us to see how the universe works. Exploring a world we cannot see with our own eyes is a common thread in Don’s career as a professional photographer. Always science-minded but never formally trained, Don uses photography as a way to explore and understand the world around him. Photographing something unusual or unknown is the perfect excuse to learn something new. Don’s work often pushes up against the technical limitations of modern camera equipment and the physical limitations of light itself. It’s in that space between photography and geek that Don seems to be most at home. He even hosts a podcast called Photo Geek Weekly, which I have had the honor of being a guest on a few times (and it is honestly one of my favorite things to do). When you browse through Don Komarechka’s work you may have the feeling you are not doing enough with your photography. I know I do. His work is something unique and special. Part photography, part science experiment. One of the things I truly love about Don is his total openness to the process. He will share anything to help people understand his craft. He shows behind the scenes shots often, and on the macro episode we did he even shared his raw files to convince someone that the bee was alive and real. Don is honestly one of the coolest photographers I know, and I hope you enjoy the direction we head today. Join macro photographer Don Komarechka and me as we explore his image “Essence of Reverie”, a water droplet refraction image using a small wildflower seed, and a flower, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Don Full Portfolio: donkom.ca Snowflake Portfolio: skycrystals.ca Photo Geek Weekly Podcast: photogeekweekly.com Workshops: donkom.ca/workshops Facebook: @donkomphoto Instagram: @donkomphoto Twitter: @donkom Flickr: @donkom 500px: @donkom

I can’t believe this is actually happening. Renee Robyn is finally on Behind the Shot. Since most people already know who Renee is, I could probably stop here and call a day. I wouldn’t need to write anything long, or detailed, or praise her talent at all, and the odds are good you’d still understand how cool this is. But here’s the thing…. I want to write about Renee. The reason I am so excited about having Renee on the show is because I almost had her on once before. In fact, a few years ago we even recorded an episode. Unfortunately that show never made it to release, but now she’s back! Renee Robyn is a Canadian photographer, and a damn good one, but she also happens to be a master of compositing. I have heard the term Digital Artist, but I like one I found while researching her better… she is a Pixel Alchemist. A brilliant Pixel Alchemist. Renee travels the world photographing amazing places, as though she is chasing the perfect backdrop for her art. She’s a treasure hunter, looking for those special scenes to use in her composites. All the while she seems to be studying her surroundings…. what angles are the clouds at, how does the atmosphere of the scene change as the water or mountains fall into the distance, and how is the light unique. I actually think Renee sees the world differently than anyone else, and it shows in her art. Those real world backdrops become a small part of the uniquely cinematic worlds she creates, and once you’ve seen Renee’s work you’ll recognize it every time. She can merge fact and fiction with a digital precision that few others can, which is why she has worked with industry leading brands like Adobe, Wacom, Corel, Capture One, and Intel. Let me paint a picture of how Renee works…. she can be in a gale force wind, climbing a fog-shrouded mountain and still make magic. Just as easily she can be in a studio working with one of the world’s top musicians, and in both cases my guess is she’d be in her happy place. An expert retoucher, her mastery of color theory, editing, light and shadow is just plain next level, and I am so excited to have her as my guest. Join one of the most talented creators I know, Renee Robyn, and me as we discuss all things compositing, and take a deep dive into one of her amazing images, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Renee Website: reneerobynphotography.com Facebook: @reneerobynphotography Instagram: @reneerobynphotography Instagram Side Quests: @noodlesontheside Twitter: @reneerobynphoto

Last week in Las Vegas was WPPI 2019, and I had the chance to check out some new software, some new hardware, and to make some new friends. If you have never been to WPPI, it’s a conference in Las Vegas focusing on Wedding & Portrait Photography. Before you say something like “I don’t do Weddings or Portraits” let me explain. While it focuses on those two specialties, the conference and Expo offer something for virtually any photographer. I’m a concert photographer and yet I always learn something to improve the band portraits or promo images I make, not to mention I always look for ways to improve my use of flash. For the last few years WPPI has called Mandalay Bay home, and I find it a much better location than the past venues – with the exception of the old days at MGM Grand. As usual, the conference had classes on a variety of subjects, from Wedding topics, to posing, lighting, and business practices. While in general the conference gets a great selection of instructors, there were some things I saw this year that I was not a fan of. In doing the video I was torn between really going deep into those areas that bugged me vs just pointing them out and moving on. I opted to go with the later. There were some instructors this year that honestly were not good, but I didn’t want this to become the “Presentation Critique” show. Critiquing someone else’s performance is a tricky thing, as I am sure people could rip me up sometimes after I have a done a presentation. I really don’t want the issues I do mention to take over the narrative here. Every conference has some issues, and the main takeaway for me is that WPPI is a very worthwhile conference. The social networking part alone is awesome. That said, if you are reading the majority of your presentation off of your computer then yeah…. you need some work. If the person I am talking about in this video sees it and realizes it’s them I am talking about – even though I do not mention names – then please feel free to reach out. I’d love to share with you some tips for improving the presentation you did. The Expo was big enough, and well lit, but did feel more crowded this year. The vendor selection was varied enough, but not as wide as past years, but as always some of the best instruction comes at the Expo. Every major vendor has a stage and some great presenters. The best of any conference is the networking, and WPPI is no exception. I had the opportunity to run into to old friends, hang out with some great talent, and make new friends. If for no other reason go to WPPI for the social aspect. This year I visited the Canon booth to chat about the new EOS RP Full Frame Mirrorless body, which started shipping the day I was there, and to talk about the Canon photo community RAISE. I am actually really glad I was there to talk about RAISE, because within a week of coming home a friend saw a complaint in another photo community and sent me a copy of that post. The complaint was about the Terms of Usage and shared a quote that looked pretty bad. Luckily, because I had the opportunity to ask some of these questions, I knew it didn’t look right and researched it myself to find out the entire quote was wrong. It ends out that the person that had posted the complaint about the ToS had copied text from some other ToS and was out there telling people the RAISE ToS said these things – which it didn’t. Yup, the text was no where to be found in the RAISE ToS, but it was in the more general Canon Global Services ToS, which wouldn’t apply here. Once again this proves that the internet will be wrong every time you don’t check it yourself. Sigma was there as usual too, so I stopped by to talk about the ART series lenses, and in particular a lens I had tried out – the 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM. One of my favorite pieces of software is Camera Bits Photo Mechanic, so I also chatted with the Camera Bits team about the software, and why people to try it. Again, it is a major part of my workflow and I am looking forward the release of Ver 6 on March 25th. Lastly, one of the big parts of WPPI is their Print Competition. While I have never entered, I know a few people that have and I am a huge fan of image competitions. I even judge some here in So Cal on occasion. I think image competitions are one of the best ways to improve your photography, so I asked my friend Kristi Elias to give us some thoughts. Kristi is an award winning photographer, and past judge at the WPPI competition, and her insight may help push you to stepping out of your comfort zone. Go enter a comp, you will glad you did. Join me on this special Behind the Shot as I look back at the 2019 WPPI Conference and Expo, and talk to a few of the key companies.

Marco Larousse is a fine art, street, and documentary photographer based out of Hamburg, Germany. With over 30 years of experience his work encompasses the subtle touch only a a seasoned pro can capture, and I find a common thread in much of his work always reminds me that Marco is an accredited journalist. In many way, photojournalism is the art of telling a story based on a single moment in time, and that is where Marco crafts his work. Marco is a member of FREELENS, a professional organization of photojournalists and photographers, an award winning author, and along with Scott Bourne co-founded PPN – the Photo Podcast Network – with he serves as an editor, host, and producer. It was in fact PPN where I first learned about Marco and his work, after being on the PPN Camera & Inspiration show back in the summer of 2018. I knew back then I needed to get him on Behind the Shot. Marco is a passionate photographer, and he can appraise the power and importance of preserving a moment in time, our visual memories, for future generations. As I mentioned above, with Marco story telling is second nature, and the ability to tell a story with a single image is what made photography his preferred outlet to express himself. With a focus on capturing posed, unscripted moments, and documenting our daily lives he has no trouble staying motivated. His affection and respect for his subjects, influenced by the work of Mary Ellen Mark’s style, shows in every image. Join photographer Marco Larousse and me as we take a look at how sometimes a shot you can see in your mind may take a while to find in the camera, and how persistence can pay off. Connect with Marco Personal: marcolarousse.com Facebook: @MarcoLarousse1 Instagram: @marco.larousse Twitter: @hamburgcam PPN – Photo Podcast Network photopodcasts.com iTunes / Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts

This is our second of a continuing series in conjunction with Red River Paper. Red River Paper’s Education program helps photography students by providing high quality photo papers to photography education programs around the U.S. On each of these special shows my guest will be a photography student from one of the Red River Paper Education partner schools. Tied to each of these education episodes we will also do a limited time social media based giveaway of 10 Red River Paper Sample packs, with one of those winners also receiving a 13×19 print of the student’s image from that show. Details on the giveaway, and how to enter, can be found here. For this show we head to New York, and the photography program at the Fashion Institute of Technology, to introduce you to Loise Eisenhart. Loise was born in Switzerland and graduated from High School there with a minor in Arts. She has always been interested in the power of an image and her attraction to photography started pretty early, taking her first photography class at age 9. For Loise, photography became a serious goal when she moved to New York City and began to study it at the Fashion Institute of Technology. From then onwards, she has been constantly shooting to create herself a strong fashion fine art portfolio. Take a look at Loise’s Instagram account you will see such a strong creative artist. She brings such a fresh look to the Fashion Fine Art genre, with not only unique angles and processing, but a fun and dreamy vision. Join Fine Art Fashion photographer Loise Eisenhart and me as we take a look at her path through photography education and dissect her wonderful abstract image of a fashion model, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Loise Portfolio: loiseeisenhart.com Instagram: @loiseeisenhart Fashion Institute of Technology Photography Program: fitnyc.edu Red River Paper Premium Photo Paper Catalog: redrivercatalog.com

When I first saw Ian Spanier’s portfolio I immediately noticed one thing… he has a complete understanding of light. Ian began taking photographs at six years old, and that early start lead him to majoring in photography in college. He ended up working in publishing as an editor, but making pictures never left him. Having only known 35mm, he taught himself medium and large format as well as lighting. Today Ian is a respected and published artist. His first full book of published work, “Playboy, a Guide to Cigars” arrived in cigar shops in November 2009, with the public version hitting retail stores in the Spring of 2010. The book is a collection of his photographs made in six countries, and spanning two and a half years. His second book project was a different subject altogether, and “Local Heroes: America’s Volunteer Fire Fighters,” came out to critical acclaim in the Fall of 2012. “Right Next Door,” his latest personal project has been featured on Huffingtonpost.com (here and here), The Daily Mail, and the Platypod Blog, and he’s not even finished shooting! Along with the books, Ian is a monthly contributor to PDN’s Photoserve where he shares advice and stories about his experiences. As an educator, he loves to share his experience as a lecturer for Canon, PPA and the NY Photo Expo, B&H, The Sante Fe Workshop (2019) and The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Ian is Westcott Lighting “Top Pro,” a long-time member of LowePro Bags “Loweprofessionals” Team, as well as a Brand Ambassador for Hoodman USA and Platypod. The original “Masters of Photography” have always inspired Spanier as they shot what they saw. For him, there is no “one” subject that he photographs; he shoots what he sees. This approach has certainly paid off too. Ian is a regular award recipient of major photo competitions, including Communication Arts, American Photography, SPD, The International Color Awards, The International Black & White Spider Awards, PDN’s World in Focus, Best of ASMP, Planet Magazine, and Seeing the Light, to name a few. Join photographer and educator Ian Spanier and me as we take a deep dive into his portrait of actor Jeff Bridges, and talk about classic portrait lighting. Connect with Ian Personal: ianspanier.com Facebook: @ianspanierphoto Instagram: @ianspanier Twitter: @ianspanierphoto Ian’s Books Playboy: The Book of Cigars: amazon.com Local Heroes: Portraits of American Volunteer Firefighters: amazon.com

I am sitting here writing this and struggling with how to describe Moose Peterson, and the odds are you already know of Moose, or at least of his work. Still, it’s Moose Peterson, a wildlife, nature, landscape and aviation photographer that is about as good as they get. Moose’s lifelong passion is photographing the life history of our endangered wildlife and wild places. Since 1981 he and his wife Sharon have dedicated their lives to that pursuit. In fact, educating the public about our wild heritage is their hallmark. In 2008 he added aviation photography to his repetoire, with the same goal of preserving our aviation heritage and the freedoms they protect for future generations. His use of light in capturing these amazing machines is beautiful. Moose has been honored often for his photographic passion. He’s a Nikon Ambassador USA, the recipient of the John Muir Conservation Award, a Research Associate with the Endangered Species Recovery Program, and that’s a partial list. Moose was part of Epson’s Finish Strong ad campaign, and was the creative producer/photographer of his acclaimed film: Warbirds and The Men Who Flew Them. As an educator he shares his knowledge through his writing, being published in over 143 magazines worldwide, author of 29 books including his latest, Take Off and best seller Captured. He lectures across the country to thousands upon thousands of photographers every year. One of the original Nikon shooters to receive the D1 in 1999, Moose embraced this new technology, becoming the only wildlife photographer in the world to shoot strictly digital in the early years. While a beta site for all the major hardware and software manufacturers, Moose continues being a creative innovator of new techniques both behind the camera and the computer, which is the driving force behind his photography and goals. Join acclaimed wildlife photographer Moose Peterson and me as we dive into one of his amazing images of moose roaming in Alaska, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Moose Personal: moosepeterson.com Portfolio: moosepeterson.myportfolio.com Aviation: warbirdimages.com Normandy Bound: normandybound.com Facebook: @MoosePeterson Instagram: @MoosePeterson Twitter: @MoosePeterson

For the last year or so the word Platypod has surfaced again and again in posts I see online. I think the first time I heard the name was through Scott Kelby on Twitter, and then after that is was Photo Joseph, Gilmar Smith, and Rick Sammon. Truth be told I had no idea what a Platypod was at the time – although the name stuck with me. (Side Note: If your product has a name that is as immediately rememberable as Platypod is you are off to a great start) I had meant to look this mysterious product up, but before I made it that far Scott Kelby posted a behind the scenes photo of his in use. Ah Ha! I instantly understood what a cool idea it was, but I still had so many more questions. My actual introduction to the company was accidental. I don’t even remember how the topic came up, maybe during a recording of Behind the Shot with him, or during a recording for the podcast he does with Larry Becker – The Picturing Success podcast – but one day Rick Sammon mentioned he knew the founder of Platypod, Dr. Larry Tiefenbrunn. Within a few minutes Rick had introduced me to Dr. T and we were talking about all things Platypod, and all things photography. Of course, if he was the founder of a photography product as original and well designed as Platypod he must be a photographer himself, right? Yup, Dr. Tiefenbrunn can shoot. Larry started in photography at the early age of 15 with a Konica T3. He was so serious that he even attended a Nikon School Seminar, and a Master Darkroom class. In no time Larry was developing his own Black & White file in walk-in closet! Dr. Tiffenbrunn is not only the founder and CEO of Platypod, but he is also a practicing Pediatrician. He currently heads a 5 person practice in New Jersey, where his images line the hallways and exam rooms. How he manages to to that job and run Platypod I have no idea, he does that and more. Larry is a father of 6 with his wife Mina and enjoys photographing the family – including his kids spouses and his grandchildren. Somehow, Larry still finds time to explore and improve his craft, shooting portrait, travel, macro, and product photography. Join businessman and photographer Dr. Larry Tiefenbrunn and me as we explore his product photography, and discuss the success and future of Platypod, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Larry Personal: Portfolio on SmugMug Platypod Website: platypod.com Blog: platypod.com/blog Facebook: @platypod Instagram: @platypodtripods Twitter: @platypodtripods YouTube: @platypod Items Mentioned by Larry Ansel Adams: The Negative Fil Hunter: Light Science & Magic Bryan Peterson: Learning to See Creatively Square Jellyfish: Tablet Mount

Editors Note: On this episode I start a contest with Adam Elmakias’ Music Photography Workshops where I am sponsoring a chance to win one of two entries into the workshops, happening in San Diego on January 7th & 8th, 2019. Details and rules are here. I think I first saw Jaz Meadows’ work on Instagram, or maybe it was through Mattias Hombauer’s Shooting the Rockstars Facebook Group, I don’t remember, but what I do remember perfectly clear was my reaction. “How the hell does this guy get such amazing Black & White images. His approach to processing Black & White shots blows me away. Jaz is a Live Music Photographer from Melbourne Australia that’s been on the scene for the last 4 1/2 years. He started, as so many have, by sneaking cameras into concerts, but now he’s shooting for some of Australians top publications, PR companies, and touring companies. Let’s get back to the Black & White Black stuff for a second. When Jaz sent me his bio it said: “Black and white is Colour and captures the energy that is everything music.” I had to think about that for a bit, but it makes sense – especially once you’ve seen Jaz Meadows’ work. He treat Black & White processing as though it’s full of color and nuance. I am not going to lie, I want Jaz on the show not just talk about his amazing photography, but to hopefully have some of his skill rub off on me. As far is Jaz is concerned, his story is in his art, and that shows in every image. Jaz Meadows does some amazing imagery, so join me as I sit down with him to dissect his image of the band AFI (A Fire Inside) entitled “The Wind That Carries Me Away” on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Jaz Personal: jazmeadowsimagery.com Facebook: @JazMeadowsImagery Instagram: @jaz_meadows_imagery Twitter: @jazmeadowsimage

This is the first in a series of episodes focusing on the state of photography education, in conjunction with Red River Paper. Red River Paper’s EDU program helps photography students by providing high quality photo papers to photography programs around the US. Once a quarter I will chose a photography student from one of the Red River Paper EDU partner schools to be a guest on the Behind the Shot podcast, with the help of Red River Paper, their professors and their instructors. With each of these education episodes we will also do a limited time social media based giveaway of 10 Red River Paper Sample packs, with one of those winners will also receiving a 13×19 print of the student’s image from that show. This contest has been completed and is now closed. Details on the contest, and a list of winners, can be found here. Santa Monica College’s Photography program is one if the Red River Paper EDU schools, so to kick this series off I asked my recent guest Josh Sanseri, who is the photography professor and program chair of that program, to help chose a student. World, meet Karl Erik Vasslag. Karl Erik, meet the world. Karl Erik is only 21, and at 18 he packed up and moved from Norway to Los Angeles to study photography at Santa Monica College. That speaks to his drive and passion about photography, and also speaks to the quality of the program. In looking through Karl Erik’s images to chose a shot for the show I was honestly surprised. I wouldn’t have guessed he was still a student. I would have assumed he was a working pro. Karl Erik clearly has an eye, that part of photography that some might argue can’t be taught, or at least is hard to teach. His images all have a story, and have a richness of style and color. Karl Erik says that while he is not normally a beach person that it is his favorite place when he has his photography hat on. A place to live in the moment and just think about photography. With a portfolio of landscapes, portraits, and fashion images shot both on location and in the studio I would suggest that he is well on his way to becoming a great photographer. On this episode of Behind the Shot join photographer Karl Erik Vasslag and me as we breakdown his wonderful seaside portrait of Norway – with a replica of Noah’s Arc replica in there for fun. Connect with Karl Erik Personal: karlerikvasslag.com Flickr: @karlerikvasslag Instagram: @karlerikvasslagphoto Santa Monica College Photography Program: SMC.edu Red River Paper Premium Photo Paper Catalog: redrivercatalog.com

I have had the pleasure of having The Copyright Zone guys on Behind the Shot twice now, each time I learn something new. The first time Ed Greenberg and Jack Reznicki were on, back in June of 2017, we chatted at length about Copyright for Photographers (here). It was a general conversation on things all photographers should have a better understanding of. The feedback I got back then was amazing, and I had Jack on right afterwards for a normal Behind the Shot show – that show is here. In February of 2018 the U.S. Copyright office made some changes to how you register your photos, so once again the Copyright Zone guys came back to explain those changes, and a lot more. We discuss recent legal cases, process, and general copyright for photographers. That show aired in October of 2018 and can be seen here. Following that latest show someone reached out to me on Twitter with a suggestion. Steve Carlson (@SteveCarlsonSF) wrote: “Your recent episode with the Copyright Zone guys has reminded me that I’d still love to see a blog post from you that details your process for registering photos!” Great idea Steve, I am not much of a blog post written, so I hope it’s ok if I did a video instead. Also… Steve is a great photographer too, so go follow him. As you are watching this video please keep in mind that this is just how I do it. I am not saying it’s the right way, the best way, or how you should do it. I am sure there are areas I will refine overtime, but for now this works really well for me, and it’s easily repeatable. I also want to take a second to thank Jack Reznicki. After recording this video I reached out Jack to ask him to “proof” it for me – I don’t know anyone else more qualified to tell me when I’m wrong. Jack had a few great suggestions for things to add, so I redid it. After Jack checked it again another one or two things showed up and I added those. Because of Jack I am feeling pretty good about the end result (until the internet gets to it that is). Join me as I take you on a walkthrough of my Photo Copyright Registration Workflow on this episode of Behind the Shot. The links I mention during the show are all listed below for you too. Connect with Steve Personal: stevebrazill.com Facebook: @SteveBrazillPhotography Instagram: @SteveBrazill U.S Copyright Office Links Website: copyright.gov Registration Portal: Registration Login Photography: Photography Related Links Application Previews: Preview the Application for Group Registration of Unpublished Photographs Preview the Application for Group Registration of Published Photographs Application Templates: Unpublished Photographs Title List Template Published Photographs Title List Template LR/Transporter Lightroom Plugin Photographer’s Toolbox: LR/Transporter Ed Greenberg & Jack’s Reznicki Website: TheCopyrightZone.com The Copyright Zone Book: Amazon

After meeting photographer Josh Sanseri I would say that the future of photography is in good hands. Josh is not only a photographer with over 20 years of professional experience, but he is a tenured professor and department chair of Santa Monica College’s esteemed Photography Department – a program that is a Red River Paper EDU partner which we also talk about during the show. He’s taught courses at UCLA, Art Center College of Design, UCSD, the Santa Fe Workshops in New Mexico, the Julia Dean Workshops in Los Angeles, and the Venice School of Photography in Italy. Josh knows photography, and along with his education background he puts that knowledge to great use in his own work. Josh describes his passion as “creatively illustrating people’s character, using their unique everyday life as the backdrop”. That is an interesting line to me. As photographers we all try to tell a story, to try to convey more than the image itself, but illustrating people’s character is such a cool approach, and it shows in his portraits. Josh’s fine art approach to photographing people was generated while earning a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema & Photography and a Master of Fine Arts in Art — both from Southern Illinois University. His photographs are often described as equal parts fine art and technical proficiency. He achieves that balance using a solid understanding of light, composition, and the ability to relate to his subjects without relying on gimmicks or the latest software plugin to make successful photographs. That is refreshing. Josh has been an official photographer for Outside Lands and Treasure Island Music Festivals since they began in 2007 & 2008. As the festivals’ exclusive and official portrait photographer, he’s photographed hundreds of musicians backstage including Henry Rollins, Janelle Monae, Lucinda Williams, The Flaming Lips, Billy Idol, Death Cab For Cutie, Phoenix, Tom Morello, Chuck D, Big Boi, Diplo, Kings of Leon, Deadmau5, and many more. He has also photographed many executives including the president of Dreamworks Animation, the CEO of ING, the executive warden of New Mexico State Penitentiary, and the CEO of One Legacy. His work has appeared in such publications as Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone, Relix, Thrasher, Los Angeles Times Magazine, and Business Week, to name a few. Join me as I sit down to chat with Southern California photographer and educator Josh Santeri about one of his creative portraits of the band Fun, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Josh Personal: sansei.com Facebook: @joshsanseri Instagram: @jsanseri Santa Monica College Photography Program: SMC.edu Red River Paper Premium Photo Paper Catalog: redrivercatalog.com

I have said to many people, many times, that when it comes to Live Music photography British photographer Christie Goodwin is a personal favorite – a hero of sorts. She is a witty, fun, and amazingly talented photographer, that is as humble as she is talented. In fact she was one of the first people I reached out to when I started Behind the Shot, and she ended up being my third guest, way back in 2016 with an amazing image of singer Katy Perry. She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and she got her feet wet in fashion photography. For most of the 1990s she was an editorial news photographer for major wire agencies, and it was around that time that she developed the habit of outsmarting security to sneak her camera into venues to shoot her favorite bands. Then, in 2005, she was commissioned to shoot a live performance, and that same evening she hung up her editorial hat and became a full time music and entertainment photographer. She hasn’t looked back since. Christie is the official photographer at the Royal Albert Hall. I will pause and let that sink in for a second… THE Royal Albert Hall. She is also a highly sought after tour and portrait photographer, having worked with the likes of Usher, Taylor Swift, Joe Bonamassa, One Direction, Ed Sheeran and more. Christie’s work has appeared on CDs, DVDs, tour merchandise, posters, calendars, and books, and now…. finally, in her own book. Ed Sheeran: Memories We Made is going to be tough for me to describe to you. First of all, as I said above, I am fan of Christie’s work. So much so that I pre-ordered the US version through Amazon. I was so excited for the November 6 launch date, and then a gift arrived. Christie sent me a UK copy. To put this in perspective, I care about this gift so much that when reading it I was careful to not crease it too much or bend any pages. This book will stay as nice as the day I got it. So the question is, how’s the book? I honestly thought it was going to be a coffee table book of photos, you know, just a bunch of photos. Let me be clear, these would be photos by my favorite music photographer, but I though “photo book”. This is a photo book, but man… it is so much more. The forward is written by Ed’s dad John Sheeran, and that sets a great tone. Then, as you turn the page to “look” at photos you are met with stories. Amazing stories of the 10 years that Christie has been photographing Ed. It would seem that the old saying is true. People that are talented in one area are often talented in many, and Christie can freakin write. The stories, and photo captions, are told in a fun and entertaining way. You can feel the moments as though you were there. I know, that sounds like a commercial. When I first cracked this thing open to read some I had so much much that after about 100 pages I checked the clock and it was 4am. Oh yeah, I need to add that John Sheeran didn’t just write the forward – he captions a number of the photos, describing why he likes them. It’s good. Really, really good On this episode of Behind the Shot, I talk with my friend Christie Goodwin about her new book Ed Sheeran: Memories We Made, her history working with one of the top performers today, and how she made this amazing image of Ed at Wembley Stadium. Buy the Book Worldwide Links: Ed Sheeran: Memories We Made Amazon (US): Ed Sheeran: Memories We Made Connect with Christie Personal: christiegoodwin.com Facebook: @christie.goodwin Twitter: @christiegoodwin Instagram: @christiegoodwin

Back in 2017 I was dealing with a Copyright infringement and ended up reaching out to Ed Greenberg, one of the guys behind the great website The Copyright Zone.The phone conversation with Ed turned into one of my most popular shows to date, the original Copyright for Photographers episode from June of 2017. Recording that show with Ed, and his Copyright education partner Jack Reznicki, changed my workflow. From the feedback I got on that show it seems it changed a lot people’s understanding and approach to protecting their copyright. Fast forward to 2018 and some things have changed, and so Jack and Ed have agreed to join me again to offer some updates and insight on the current state of copyright registration in the US for photographers. You don’t need to see the first show before watching this, but we won’t be recovering all of that info, so at some point you should watch that too. This is an update to that show, a sequel. We will recap some of the important points, but will mainly cover the changes you need to know now. As with the first show, on this episode I am hoping to dispel some rumors, and get accurate information out to the photo community. To do that, there may not be anyone as passionate about photographer’s rights as the two guys behind The Copyright Zone website and book. Ed Greenberg and Jack Reznicki are well know for their lectures and presentations on the importance of understanding your rights as a photographer. Through multiple appearances with B & H Photo, Scott Kelby’s The Grid, and even KelbyOne Courses, these two have been helping educate photographers for years. Ed Greenberg has been a practicing litigator in New York City for over thirty years. He has represented a Who’s Who of top photographers and illustrators, not to mention the average people like you and I – Richard Avedon, Mel Sokolsky, Chris Usher, MacDuff Everton, Michael Grecco, Anita Kunz, Marc Burkhardt and of course, his partner at The Copyright Zone, Jack Reznicki. He has represented models, model agencies (including Ford Models), stylists, reps, agents and The Society of Illustrators. Not only has Ed been a guest lecturer in the Masters Program in Digital Photography at The School of Visual Arts in New York, but has also been a faculty member. This is a guy that actually goes to court and tries cases – in front of real judges and juries. Honestly, I can’t believe he is a guest on this show, but today he is. Jack Reznicki is an internationally renowned commercial people and children photographer, also based in New York City. His client list reads like a dream resume – Toys “R” Us, Tylenol, The Wall Street Journal, Hyatt, Kodak, Reader’s Digest, Crest, AT&T, and Playtex to name a few. And ready for this, Jack has had several Time Magazine covers. A published author, Jack’s books on commercial photography include “Studio and Commercial Photography- A Kodak Pro Workshop” . Jack has twice received the IPC (International Photographic Council) Leadership medal for “Excellence in Studio Photography” at the United Nations. His work is truly that amazing. One of the original “Canon Explorers of Light”, Jack is also an “Epson Stylus Pro”, and a Sandisk “Photo Master”. He does testing and consulting with Canon, Epson, Adobe, Mamiya, Microsoft, X-Rite, Leaf digital backs, and onOne Software. I am so happy that these two gentleman are back on Behind the Shot, and I really hope this info helps you. Join me on this special episode of Behind the Shot as I spend some more time with The Copyright Zone guys, Ed Greenberg and Jack Reznicki to talk about Copyright for Photographers. Connect with Ed Law Practice: greenbergiplaw.com The Copyright Zone: TheCopyrightZone.com Connect with Jack Personal: reznicki.com The Copyright Zone: TheCopyrightZone.com Twitter: @copyrightjack Facebook: @jack.reznicki Instagram: @reznicki Jack Online Lectures and Workshops Ed & Jack’s Book Amazon: The Copyright Zone Book KelbyOne: The Grid with Scott Kelby & RC Conception Copyright Essentials Business Law B & H Photo: Everything You Wanted to Know About Copyright but Were Afraid to Ask The Copyright Zone Guys Once Again The Copyright Zone Guys Q&A Again

Rick Sammon is an award winning photographer, and one of the members of the elite Canon Explorer of Light program. A tireless, prolific and inspirational image-maker, Rick, called by many “The Godfather of Photography,” is one of the most active photographers on the planet – dividing his time between creating images, leading photo workshops and seminars, and making personal appearances. His enthusiasm for digital imaging is contagious. He is a man on a mission – a mission to make digital photography fun, creative, exciting and rewarding for others. He even does private coaching. Yeah, private coaching from Rick Sammon. That would be awesome. And if you are looking for great video training, Rick has almost 20 classes on KelbyOne, not to mention a wonderfully personal interview he did with Kalebra Kelby. I am always impressed how “Creative People” seem to be creative in many areas. Rick has authored more photography books than anyone I know, with his latest, “The Route 66 Photo Road Trip: How to Eat, Stay, Play, and Shoot Like a Pro”, puts the number around 40. In the last year, Rick has teamed up with fellow KelbyOne instructor Larry Becker, for the Picturing Success podcast. I am honored to say that I was the guest on episode 7, but don’t let that stop you, every show has guests giving valuable and inspirational information on achieving success. I asked Rick once how he describes his photography, and he answered “evolving,” He hesitates to categorize his work. He does it all, and enjoys the freedom of not specializing. With nearly 40 years of experience, this self-taught photographer has many accomplishments – and as Rick suggests, “When you are through changing, you are through.” I am so happy that Rick was able to join me for a third time to discuss some of his travel portraiture on this, my 50th episode, of Behind the Shot. Connect with Rick Personal: ricksammon.com Instagram: @ricksammonphotography Facebook: @RickSammonPhotography Twitter: @ricksammon Rick’s Workshops, Seminars, and Coaching ricksammon.com The Picturing Success Podcast, with Larry Becker Picturing Success Podcast Rick’s Books on Amazon Amazon Rick’s Classes on KelbyOne KelbyOne

Terry Jack comes from a photographic family. I first found out about him through his brother, music photographer Dustin Jack, after recording a Behind the Shot with Dustin years ago – you can find that episode here. Terry isn’t a full time photographer, but his images stand out. His “real job” is being a first responder, as a Firefighter and Paramedic. That says a lot about Terry actually. He is willing to live on the edge, putting himself on the line for others. (Thanks for what you do Terry) Photographically Terry mostly shoots High School sports, along with sports related portraits, composites, and team or player portraits. This love of sports imagery also takes Terry into the world of surfing and landscape on occasion. Terry told me that his goal is to make High School athletes look like pros, while trying to create a look, or brand, for the schools he works with. With an eye on moving into sports and commercial photography full time Terry has created his own unique voice. Join photographer Terry Jack and me as we look into the world of High School sports photography by examining his image from an Edison vs Mater Dei football game. Connect with Terry Portfolio: surfcityactionphotos.com Instagram: @terry_jack_photos Twitter: @terrancejack