Palm Springs.

Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Carnies.

The New Cam.

Just got a new 5D Mark II and I'm stoked to say the least. The HD video I haven't even messed with yet, but its in the works. It was listed in the stores with an extra battery, which I was told "are rarer than hen's teeth" for about $3055. We got it brand new in the box (not opened yet) for $2700. So we saved ourselves the tax and got an extra battery taboot! Gotta love Craigslist. I got it Friday and I shot a children's birthday party, then the beach the next day with my 580 flash. I'm LOVIN' it. The dynamic range is light years from my original 1Ds. Business has been good to say the least and its nice to have a new paintbrush to work with. This and the image above are my favorite from the weekend.


It was Jordan's Birthday...


There is a metaphor here... *hint* I was as excited to shoot this new camera as this child is eating this cake.



Spider man was SO wasted on A&W...


Pinata's

You've Got Mail.

When we send out E-Promos like the ones from our "Come Create With Us" campaign (listed a few posts below) through Agency Access, we can track who opened our emails, as well as the individuals or Art Buyers that have clicked and gone to our site. On top of sending them a friendly, personal follow-up email, these babies will be sent to the "clickers" personally. A good friend of mine didn't quite like the "bleed" of the company name into the image, but I obviously did, so I kept it.

Originally I had the three image thumbs down on the lower left of the green half, so I could write a little personal note to the receiver in the green, but I opted to have them larger (to show off the work) and in the middle. Putting a line in the middle of the right hand side means the address label and stamp go in the top, and I can write a little note on the bottom square just below the line and just above our company name.


The front of the card will be UV coated, which I'm particularly against, but in this case it makes the 16pt thick paper feel thicker. Which hopefully screams quality. The back will not be UV coated though, so we can write in a pen or felt tip for a more personal feel. We also opted for round corners and printing on a 6x6" square to really make them stand out. Apparently Art Buyers get a bazillion of these a day and about 99% of them go to the round file cabinet. Its a simple design, not to busy, and usually "simple" stands out. Lets hope they do in this case. This is the first in a series of 3 that will be formatted this way. I will post the rest as we make them.

I've Done Better.

Photo a Day. -July 6 & 7

Ok ok... so it hasn't been quite "A Photo A Day". But hey I'm trying. Here's a couple from yesterday at the beach.. with my little man, Isaac. Monday and Tuesday I really just didn't have the hootspa to do anything. The Beach is at the end of the street and believe it or not we rarely take advantage of it. Seemed like the thing to do.

Photo a Day. -July 4 & 5

Seriously I wasn't going to post on the 4th... too much work! Yesterday I forgot again but pretty much I was resting my brain... (much needed). On the 4th though I went on a hike with my lady, her friend and my dog, which to my despair I almost killed the poor thing. She has blisters on every paw and one of her pads, in the center, got a bit ripped off. She's limping around like an old lady. For a boxer/pit she sure is a big wimp. It was only 5.5 miles round trip for Christ sakes. So I thought I'd post 2 images from the hike to make up for my lack of photos on my Photo-a-day. We could call it 2 photos every 2 days...

The hike is pretty vigorous, definitely not for children or the weak at heart. It was a pretty daunting 98 degrees, up hill both ways as they say. You get down into this Canyon where during the spring there's an amazing 14 foot natural water slide into a beautiful swimming hole. This time of year though its all dried up and terrible arid. There were a few small pools where some snakes, a lonely turtle, and some polliwogs chill in the moss, but other than that its quite dry.

If you look over to the Far left, the tallest peak is "The General", and all the little ones across, are the soldiers. Or at least that's what I call it. Use your imagination.


This is an old iron gate about where you park and walk in.

Photo a Day. -July 3

This is #3 on my photo-a-day month... I do have one for July 2, but it'll probably be a studio shot because I was pretty much there all day. Will post it later. This one however is a picture of singer/songwriter Anthony Miller or "AM" as he goes by. It was of course taken on the trusty iPhone. Karen and I saw him play last night with his band and I picked up a CD as well. He and his band were actually pretty great. I have to say though, that there is just something about music that I've been missing lately that just needs more. And by more I mean like to really let out what's pent up inside with your instrument... it seemed like just when they got rolling they finished. I've found that with several bands I listen to lately, they don't just let it ROCK out. I dunno.

Photo a Day. -July 1

Thought I'd start a photo-a-day when I passed a worker in this field. Sometimes I get caught up in just shooting for money that I forget the real reason I shoot. Because I just love it. I love the sound of that shutter.

Interview with a Photographer.

Hey! What's up, holy moly. I was interviewed recently by and Artist website called Jitzul.com. The girl that interviewed me was Alicia, she extremely well spoken and definitely asked all the right questions I thought. Actually I thought I talked a little too much but hey I'm a quarter Italian what can I say. Apparently she found us on photographers.com where for the most part we're always on the first page. Its a bit of a long interview about 30 minutes, so just work away and let it play in the background if your going to listen.

Yesterday I was chatting up my uncle, William F. Duffy. He's a world renowned sculptor in his class and he's carved everything from bronze, granite to white Italian marble. His works can be found literally from here to China. I've been to his studio in Baltimore, Maryland and he's just an incredible inspiration to me. I'm really stoked he called me yesterday to talk about art, politics and a possible new client for me largeart.com. They're located in LA and need their large statues archived so hopefully we'll be able to hook them up.

Also if you have the time have a look at this guy for Automotive Photography, yes his name is Michael Moore. Not the one you're thinking of though. We're photographing a sweet Volkswagon R32 this weekend, will post!

The "Why" of Social Media. (Repost from LinkedIn)

This is an awesome little blip about the reasons for Social Media in our generation. The gentleman who posted it to LinkedIn, Kyle Blades and his company Rebel, apparently do a ton of research in the evolution of what consumers want. I found it to be extremely upbeat and lifting.

The "why" of social media

For those of you that are sick of hearing me talk, here is what some other people have said about the power of social media:

Social media is not a fad. It is not going away. It is not just for teenagers. It is fundamentally re-engineering the way we communicate with consumers, with each other and the way we promote and sell our goods and services. If you are not making this a part of your business and marketing plan, know that your competitors are. The social media train is picking up steam. If you don’t get on board, you’ll be left at the station. (Chuck Schuele)

Social media is transforming marketing as we know it. Marketers should first of all listen or read what consumers are saying about their brand within these social networks before doing anything. They’re powerful communication tools and are becoming an essential part of successful marketing strategies. (Geri Weiland)

I use social media for networking and to reach additional groups of people that I may not otherwise have access to (those that are located in different states, etc). (Steffany Caputo)

I first got onto it out of necessity, as social media has become normal business practice. I’ve found that LinkedIn has allowed penetration into areas I would not have had otherwise. (Sue Rhodes)

If I don’t, I feel left out. (Scott S. Seroka)

I think it gives power to readers/audiences. They can come together and form communities either in support or against of anything. (Nitin Walia)

From a business, brand and internal alignment point of view, I/we use social media for relevance. Relevance for demonstrating truth behind a value proposition, relevance in demonstrating thought leadership, relevance in promoting/creating relationships and community interaction. (Lou Thurmon)

I have been using LinkedIn first and foremost to get connected and build a business network outside my physical area and secondly to use it to take the pulse of what is going on in with businesses–basically to see what the predominate thinking is on sales, marketing and the state of business these days. (Holly Rotman-Zaid)

Inbound marketing. From a business perspective, devoting a percentage of the marketing plan to allow for your audience to come to you, instead of you going to them. (Pete Iacovazzi)

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who put effort into describing why they choose social media.

-Kyle Blades

Agency Access.

Last year, I used this company to get in on some higher end clientele. It worked to some extent, but my subscription ended in January or February. Those were tougher months for us here and when things started looking up I jumped on the bandwagon of Photoserve.com, Photographers.com, and spent some monies elsewhere. Yesterday I joined Altpick.com and also took the time to rejoin in the fun of being able to get ACCESS to all the big wigs up at Saatchi & Saatchi for example with the service of Agency Access. So basically you build lists based on what you want to shoot. If you want to shoot Automotive Editorials, they'll have a list of the editor's emails for every vehicle magazine know to man. You purchase a region area with individuals, ad agencies, magazines, manufacturers, that are looking for the services of a photographer or artist. You also purchase an amount of emails say like 12,000. Meaning if I send out an e-flier/email to 600 agencies I can send those out 24 times. They also have the printing of postcards and mailers and so forth as well. Now, when you get this list you MUST come up with something catchy to send in your email blasts for your embedded e-flier. The idea is, say I'm an Art Buyer for a large Ad Agency sifting through TONS of photographers from all over the country, never mind the world, and I'm getting emails from a hundred everyday. So the Photographer that is emailing me THROUGH Agency Access (along with a hundred others that day) has to have a catchy "ad" and subject line to get my attention or else you get the old delete button. Its quite insane actually. Here's my three that I'm starting out with and scheduling today for the next four weeks or so. I'm going to tell them what I want them to do. And that's to "Come Create With Us." Enjoy.

Karen.

She's my Queen and I am her King. She totally rocks. Its great to be in love with your best friend as well.

A Tale of Two Photographers. (take two)

Part of posting these chats is, that you think, "Oh man, what is this going to do for my career." And my thought on that is, it will do incredible things! C'mon, not everyone is perfect or writes perfectly, or THINKS of everything in great taste... However its FUNNY at the time. I mean seriously, do you think that Dane Cook (as an artist) thinks twice about the jargon he's running on stage? Of course he doesn't, the better he makes it the more YOU laugh and the more success he has in his career. I'm sure he's a funny guy outside of his stand-up and movies, but I'm sure he's not running around chasing girls with his willy and talking about masterbation either. When you have two good friends with great chemistry and the atmosphere is full of laughs, shouldn't you SHARE that with someone? Otherwise it ends up in email box somewhere in cyberland. I say screw that. I want to show you I'm REAL. I think you can see from my work, I take it seriously and where I wouldn't post this stuff to my website, I think the BLOG is the website 2.0. made to let you understand that we as people can maybe be artists in every sense of the word.

I've changed my friend's company and name to keep it real for him. Just know he's a badass, just published a book and works for a major journalism publication.

11:36 AM Bob: "energy flows where attention goes" thats why I jerk off

me: lolol

11:37 AM no video chat with you??

11:38 AM Bob: haha, no... we just moved to a new building (its so fuckin dope by the way, posh, very posh... Greenwhich Village area) but I am closer to my boss and co workers so I can't be bustin a vid chat! haha

11:39 AM me: Ahhh

They upgrade the building

but can't pay the Bob huh?

Vanity Fare! spits

pa tooey

Bob: ? I get paid?

me: I meant keeping you

lol

11:41 AM Bob: oh, well hopefully they will... my tombstone isn't engraved just yet there's still the fleeting chance. Plus, they set aside money for this building like 3 years ago but yeah WTF come on... hire a Bob today and you won't regret a single day... well unless you come drinkin with me!

11:42 AM me: right!

11:43 AM Just put 750 labels on postcards

eeeeee

Shoulda paid a monkey to do it

11:45 AM Bob: like Chabot? he climbs things and slings feces

me: I heard he got a tree in the tooth once

11:46 AM Picture this

You're over there at Vanity Fare editing away with headphones on, impervious to your boss standing behind you

Meanwhile we're having a video chat and a game of charades

11:47 AM Bob: holy shit... I just turned around to make sure

me: and I'm dancing around like a spider monkey

That would be right out of a comedy

Bob: and I am laughing and clapping

me: lolololol

Bob: hahaaa

clapping LOL!

me: Making seal noises

aru!

ARU!

AURU!

Clapping

clapping

11:48 AM The funny thing

is I'm laughing and clapping right now

from that

Shit.

Bob: hahaa

me: That's funny

Bob: right

me: ooooo

Bob: until it really happens

me: right again!

Bob: and I wouldn't put it past us

11:49 AM me: yeah me niether

"There was a time son,"

11:50 AM when you father worked for Vanity Fare in NYC

Bob: and he got fired

cuz ....

me: But your Uncle Peter Came on a video chat

Bob: hahahaa

me: "What's a video chat?"

It was before holograms son

Bob: hahaha!

me: "Oh"

11:51 AM Bob: hey, what did you type on Brando's facebook page

?

?

me: Why?

Was he pissed?

I wrote

Bob: no, he told me to check out his page.. but I couldn't right away and then when I got the chance nothin was there

11:52 AM me: That I was coming down to see him this Friday

or Saturday

and that he should just order the Coke

NOT the hookers

Because the recession was killing me

lololol

Bob: Peter.... hahahaa :(

are you still goin down

11:53 AM me: I think he's out

but I am as soon as he's back for sure

Bob: out where?

me: I wanna shoot his Audi

Bob: Catalina?

me: Oh who knows probable

y

They're D-Bags to him sometimes

11:54 AM We talked about it last time he was here

11:55 AM Bob: yeah, its hard when you have so many ideas and the big companies move like Gian Sloth's

11:56 AM me: Ok buddy

I'm going to shoot a new

Cadillac CTS up in Santa Barbara

Life's tough

lol

Bob: right

haha

me: I move like

a mongoose

No sloths here

Bob: or a bunny rabbit that just had an enima

but thats good

lol

11:57 AM me: Gonna have a sweet portfoloi peice

HEY!

Check this

Bob: hahaha

me: This guys is going to mentor me

Bob: God?

me: www.khulsey.com

He does illustrations

for all the big car cos

11:58 AM but he's going to show me how to get some great effects from my images in Photoshop

Bob: shweet

me: Oh he's nasty

Check him out

I have to pay him

Bob: yeah, that industry is so much photoshop reliant

these days

me: but he's the shiz

Bob: cool

maybe if you sleep with him he will show you a few more tricks or two. LOL

11:59 AM LOL!!!!

me: Like trick pony

Bob: just joshin yuh

yeah

sure

ok dude

been slackin at work to long now

gotta jetta 2. slow outta here

me: ok

bye

Bob: adios

A Tale of Two Photographers.

I just thought that the chats that you get into while working sometimes are hilarious. This thought came to me last night and I copied and pasted to share in the funniestness. Maybe you'll find it funny, maybe you won't. I know we're having fun. He's currently an editor at a major publication on the moon.

10:34 AM Bob: you are somethin else Duffy

me: why?

10:35 AM Bob: hahaa, just jokin

me: oh

I was like

WHATDIDIDO?

Bob: hahaa, guilty kid

me: I nose

See the new port piece?

Bob: I sent you an email just about a minute

ago

10:36 AM me: #1 on the website

check it.

Bob: port piece? oh ok I am checkin it now

me: http://www.photonconcepts.com/index-slides.html?gallery=transport

10:37 AM Bob: yeah, very nice

me: mmmm

Bob: car looks clean

but I got an idea

me: Its brand new

uh?

idears?

Bob: that branch in the frame

me: go for it

yes?

10:38 AM Bob: it would be cool if branches were all around the car and it felt like you were catching a glimpse of rare unseen car like a forrest fairy... HAHAHAA!!! but seriously.,, hahaa you know what I am saying?

me: I do

10:39 AM Bob: like this majestic car/unicorn

me: but yeah no

Bob: hnhahaaa

me: lol

I wonder if this woman for the
3 day wedding event

has more money than brains

lol

Bob: but for real it could be kinda cool... "Introducing the new 4 wheel drive __ the only one like it in its class

10:40 AM yeah

me: Drivin by fairies

yes I get it

Talked to Brandon for awhile yesterday

Bob: hahahaa or San Franciscans or Cyboks... wait he has a bike... fairy

me: hahahahahahha

Bob: whats Brando up to

me: She could just hire a photobooth

10:41 AM or HIRE me to be there with a custom photobooth

Bob: yeah

right

I mean it sounds like there is some cash there

serious cash

me: Should I call her?

or email

10:42 AMBob: eh, think it through and then if you want to do it I would call

10:43 AM cuz when there's this much money there's usually bitches and fussy people so they may ask a lot of you but if the cash is right I would think about it. Maybe get a second shooter... a decent second shooter and both of you run the show

me: I can build a photobooth

no problem

small and nice

10:44 AM covered with whatever color

she has for the wedding

whatdya think

Bob: C stands or light stands w/ curtains pop a 50mm at 2.2 and you got a photobooth... oh straight on flash

me: right

Bob: right?

right

me: right

Bob: right

hahahaa

10:45 AM me: tight!

Bob: hahaaa

10:46 AM whats Brando up to?

me: redcheese.com

photobooth

10:48 AM Bob: word, where are they located

me: dunno

la maybe

Bob: col

cool

me: I love the word "dunno"

Bob: right

me: its funny and effective

Bob: I dig

hahaha

so whats brandon's deal dude

me: Like, "Duh... dunno"

Bob: hahahaa

10:49 AM me: He's good

Bob: lol

me: just working

Dylan: you goin down or he comin up..., lol

me: I was going to visit hime this weekend

Bob: wait

me: but he's Chief No-Cash

Got his car towed

$350

Bob: wha?

wow

me: Yeha

right

Shite'

6 minutes

10:55 AM me: NOT GOOD FOR BLOG10:56 AM http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/06/100-portraits-of-iconic-people-of-all-time/

10:59 AM Gonna buy a bike soon

Road bike

11:00 AM Bicycle if you will

28 minutes

11:28 AM me: Hey you there

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/bik/1213963542.html

what do you think of this?

Lunar Eclipse.

This was a Lunar Eclipse on the day the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. Kinda neat. It was right about the time I knew I wanted photography to be something great in my life.

Retouch, take two.

Since this photog kind of gave me a bit of constructive criticism, and I haven't in awhile, I felt the need for a new post. She's right though, Halos in HDR reek of bad HDR. In my defense on the final image, (its #3 at that link) it was cropped so that the trees were out, and the skyline, though minimal was cropped out of the final image as well. I really just put those up to show the difference in an image out-of-camera and one that had been really retouched. The fact is on large automotive photography shoots, there is almost always a professional retoucher there as soon as the image is taken on a tether from camera to computer. We are still in the minor leagues, however I feel like we're getting there. I actually enjoy massaging and kneading the image until the final result. I feel like it is as much of the final look of the image as the photography is. Here's another from yesterday to illustrate my point, it took most of the day to do and I'm really pleased with the results.

Before

After

The Retouch.

I know when I first saw an image in a magazine of a car or product, I simple thought, "Oh, nice picture." I also know that when you make something LOOK easy, to a client they think the same. Until I REALLY understood what went into creating a masterpiece or a portfolio piece. It requires a sophisticated attention to detail, the eye of a hawk and the skills that (I know now) can only be acquired over time. When you see a guy like this or like this, you know it takes years and years of the acquisition of that knowledge. You have to know though, within a shadow of a doubt and believe that you too can acquire such knowledge over time. I was terribly frustrated with myself and skills 4 years ago, and now I still know that I know nothing. It is a growth like success, its a process of knowledge that can't be forced, just nurtured and massaged into place. You have to start somewhere and where you'll end up is completely up to you. It takes time. However as you see yourself grow and get better at your craft, there is NOTHING more gratifying. I'm going to check out a location in Santa Barbara to shoot a 2009 Toyota Landcruiser next week. I can't wait.

This is the image that my camera captured.

This is 3 hours of digital retouching and post-production.

Opinions.

Sometimes you get caught up in your own image. Give us your opinion. Karen says no fog, I say yes to the fog. What do you say? I like the light shining through on the bottom, like maybe you just opened the doors and it kind of rolled in. Any comments are welcome. For a larger look at the photos give them a click.