PHOTOGRAPHING EXOTIC LOCALES THE EASY WAY

PHOTOGRAPHING EXOTIC LOCALES THE EASY WAY - TAKE A WORKSHOP - The photograph illustrating this article was taken by yours truly in northern Thailand where I was privileged to participate in a ten day photography workshop. Pictured are Chuck Feil, the workshop facilitator and workshop participant Curt Stetter aboard an Asian elephant bound for a remote hill tribe village. When traveling to a remote locale, there are distinct advantages to a photography workshop as opposed to either traveling on your own or as part of a tour group. Attempting to find your way around alone in a strange land can be quite frustrating and, in some instances, dangerous. Traveling with a tour group has advantages. However, with a group that is not focused on photography, your options for capturing the locale on film (or sensor) are still quite limited. With a good photo workshop, you're accessing the talent and expertize of a trained professional who is also familiar with the locale you're visiting. Workshops offer you an environment in which you can work with the confidence that comes from knowing that the nuts and bolts involved in putting together a photo excursion to say the African Congo have been attended to. You can then focus on the job of capturing great images. You'll also be learning from an experienced professional and bonding with other workshop participants. And yes, a two week long workshop in India is going to be relatively expensive. But it will also reward you with an experience you'll never forget, perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience what it's like to photo document s far away land and its native culture. So dive into the deep end of the pool. Research what's available and choose a workshop that suits your needs, then go for it. I promise, you won't be disappointed. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHRISTMAS GREETING

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MAKING MACRO MAGIC - QUICK TIP

MAKING MACRO MAGIC - QUICK TIP - When shooting a macro of say a flower or an insect, try keeping the background simple so as not to distract the viewer's attention from the actual subject. As an example, the shot here, which was taken on a sunny day, was shot with an exposure that renders the flower beautifully yet drops the shadowed background to pretty much a dead black. However, in most cases, while you may not be able to totally get rid of a background, you can minimize it. First, try to rid the background of any particularly distracting elements such as twigs or branches. then use a shallow depth of field to throw the background out of focus. This will help to draw the viewer's attention to the primary subject. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

WALL MURAL - ECUADOR

WALL MURAL - ECUADOR - I took this photo of a wall mural in a fishing village on the Pacific coast of Ecuador. I found several of these brightly painted murals, most of them depicting fish or sea birds. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

APERTURE PRIORITY VERSUS SHUTTER PRIORITY

APERTURE PRIORITY VERSUS SHUTTER PRIORITY - In photography, the balance of two factors achieves correct exposure. Those two factors are aperture size and shutter speed. Aperture size, simply put, refers to the size of the hole that allows light to pass through the camera lens to the sensor or film plane. Shutter speed, on the other hand, simply refers to the length of time the hole remains open. These two factors are reciprocal. This means that the wider the aperture (the larger the hole), the less time the shutter must remain open to achieve proper exposure. Conversely, the longer the shutter remains open, the smaller the aperture (the hole) will need to be to achieve proper exposure. So now that we understand these terms, what are aperture priority mode and shutter priority mode? In aperture priority, you get to choose the aperture size while the camera chooses the proper shutter speed to achieve correct exposure. With shutter priority, you choose the shutter speed while the camera chooses the appropriate aperture size. In other words, unlike auto, where the camera retains complete control or manual metering, where you control both the aperture size and shutter speed, priority modes allow you to control either the aperture size or shutter speed while the camera controls the other factor. Since aperture size controls depth of field, you will usually choose aperture priority when you want to control the depth of focus in an image. You would choose shutter priority when your prime concern is to control camera shake or when you want to be able to stop action or to introduce motion blur. You set the priority, and the camera sets the balance in order to achieve proper exposure of the image. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

TEMPLE DRAGON - NORTHERN THAILAND

TEMPLE DRAGON - NORTHERN THAILAND - I took this photograph of a dragon sculture earlier this year in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand. It has a timeless quality to it. It could have been made this morning. It could have been made five hundred years ago. That is if the appropriate technology had been available. In shooting exotic subjects such as this, it can be tempting to include Aunt Esther in the composition. That's fine if your primary purpose is to produce a portrait of Aunt Esther. However, if your goal is to produce an exotic and timeless travel image, then (Sorry Aunt Esther) avoid modern elements, especially of the Aunty type. Or, instead of an intriguing and exotic travel portfolio, you'll wind up with vacation snapshots. Now, if, howevewr, vacation snapshots are what you're after, then by all means, shoot Aunt Esther to your heart's delight. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

ONE PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

ONE PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS - We've all heard this statement at some time or another. But what does it really mean? Well, quite simply, it means that a photograph can, even without a word being said, deliver a most powerful message. Take the photo above which I took at an American Cancer Society Relay For Life here in Bisbee. As a fine art photograph it is quite simply, rather mediocre. The power of the photograph comes from the message it relates concerning the indomitability of the human spirit. These are cancer survivors, one aided by a walker, who are walking the initial lap of the Relay. So many photographs fit into the category of pictures worth a thousand words. Some, like the raising of the flag on on Iwo Jima or Neil Armstrong's footprint on the moon, are famous. Countless others are not. For me, one stands out. An unlikely shot to run on the front page of most every newspaper in the country, the photo was of a nature most newspapers would normally not see fit to print. The image was a full frontal nude photograph of a nine year old girl. However, newspapers all over the world did give the photo front page treatment. The photographer, Nick Ut, was subsequently awarded a Pulitzer prize for the image. If you're old enough to remember, as I am, the stark horror of this photograph is most likely forever etched in your mind. The little girl, who's name was Kim Phuc, was struck by napalm. At the time the photo was taken, Kim was racing down a dirt road, naked, having already ripped off her burning clothes. Now though, the napalm was beginning to gnaw away at her flesh, next would be muscle, right to the bone. Kim's face is contorted by pain and fear. This is a child looking Hell directly in its face. There was nothing prurient about the photograph. The obsenity it conveyed was of a different nature. It was the obsenity of innocents caught up in the horror of war. But it was an obsenity the world needed to see. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHUCK FEIL'S TAO OF PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

CHUCK FEIL'S TAO OF PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS - I just finished viewing the multi media show produced during Bisbee based photographer Chuck Feil's most recent photo workshop 'CHUCK FEIL & THE WONDERLAND OF ROCKS'. As usual, it looks like Chuck hit a home run. Having taken several of Chuck's workshops, I can attest to the fact that they're both highly instructive and loads of fun. Chuck has announced two workshops so far for 2011. The first, a photo excursion to Organ Pipe National Monument will, like the most recent workshop, be a camping based experience, which means the fee for the workshop will be highly attractive. This workshop is scheduled for late March 2011. The second workshop, ECUADOR EXPERIENCE 3 will constist of a 10 day photo adventure in Ecuador. Having participated in the first of Chuck's Ecuador workshops, I can assure you that this is one you don't want to miss. This workshop is scheduled for early May 2011. (For more information, just Google PANTERRA GALLERY. AND TELL CHUCK I SENT YOU. By the way, I have received no compensation in return for this article. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS PHOTOGRAPHY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

HAPPT THANKSGIVING

MY LAPTOP'S GOT THE FLU. NOW WHAT THE #%*% DO I DO?

MY LAPTOP'S GOT THE FLU. NOW WHAT THE #%$% DO I DO? - ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, MY LAPTOP SUDDENLY WENT ROGUE ON ME. A MAJOR VIRUS HAD INFECTED THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS TROUBLE RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY. IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE GIANT HEADLINES, THE SCREEN READ - REGISTRY CORRUPTED. I STILL HAVE ENOUGH GREY MATTER BETWEEN MY EARS TO DEDUCE WHAT THAT MEANT. DEAD IN THE WATER - UP A CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE - TOTALLY SCREWED. SHORT OF GRABBING A HUGE JACK HAMMER, SMASHING THE OFFENDING LAPTOP TO SMITHEREENS THEN BUYING A NEW COMPUTER (THANK GOD FOR ONLINE BACK-UP), JUST WHAT THE @!#$%&%#@$!^^^$@@$%!&$%#@!@#

COULD I DO? THE ANSWER CAME QUICKLY. FIND SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT COMPUTERS, THEN COUGH UP THE BUCKS NECESSARY TO INTICE HIM TO GET THE @#$%&%## THING WORKING AGAIN. SO, HIE HO, HIE HO, IT'S OFF TO THE COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP I GO. THEN I WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT. I WAIT, IT SEEMS, MUCH LONGER THAN IT TOOK NATURE TO CARVE OUT THE GRAND CANYON. NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLES I'VE SEEN. WHEN THE REPAIRMAN CALLED AND SAID THE COMPUTER WAS READY, I ACTUALLY DANCED A JIG. AFTER SIGNING A CONTRACT IN BLOOD (THAT CLAUSE ABOUT DELIVERING UP MY SOUL ONE MINUTE TILL MIDNIGHT NEXT ALL HALLOWS EVE SORTA BOTHERED ME A BIT.), I RECEIVED A BILL FOR MORE THAN I PAID FOR MY HOUSE ABOUT 35 YEARS AGO. i GOTTA ADMIT, MY COMPUTER RAN FASTER THAN EVER. ONLY THING WAS, ALL MY PHOTOGRAPHS FROM 2009 FORWARD WERE MISSING. SO NOW I'M HAVING TO RETRIEVE MY FILES FROM ONLINE BACK-UP . MORAL OF THE STORY. ALWAYS, ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR FILES. BECAUSE SOMEHOW, SOMETIME, DIGITAL DOOGETY DOGGLEPIPER VIRUS IS GOING TO COME YOUR WAY AND GOBBLE UP YOUR PRECIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS AND LEAVE YOUR PIDDLY ASS HIGH AND DRY. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

A RATHER STICKY SITUATION

A RATHER STICKY SITUATION - SOMEONE WITH A STRANGE SENSE OF HUMOR HAD PLACED THIS DOLL'S HEAD IN A PATCH OF CACTUS. I just happened to come across it while taking a walk. Luckily I had my camera with me. This illustrates why it's wise to always keep your camera at the ready. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS PHOTOGRAPHY

IT DEPENDS ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW

IT DEPENDS ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW - This Buddhist monk seems more than willing to get down on his knees in order to obtain just the right point of view to capture images of tourists visiting the Buddhist temple located on Doi Suthep, a mountain outside Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest city. I was recently asked by a fellow photographer for some input on how to obtain interesting points of view, so here goes. If every time you shoot a subject, you shoot straightforward at eye level, your photography can become quite boring very quickly. Here are some suggestions though for adding a bit of oomph to your photographs. Look up. Pointing your lens upward from a low vantage point pretty much automatically adds interest. If you're photographing a person, this is a method for making the subject appear taller. Shooting up from a slightly low angle will render the subject as simply tall and imposing. Think for instance an intimidating Gunfighter.Get a bit lower and shoot at a more pronounced upward angle and you have Paul Bunyan. Photograph a person from above with the camera lens pointed just slightly down and you will render the subject shorter than in real life. Turn Harlem Globetrotter Jesse into Pygmy Pete. Or shoot from the fifth floor balcony of the hotel and capture a bird's eye view of the swimming pool. Another neat trick that works under certain conditions with a person, or with a statue, is to shoot just the lower portion of the figure. I photographed the feet and lower legs of a golden statue at one of the Buddhist temples in Northern Thailand. Although the statue was about life size, the photos gives the impression that the figure was of monumental height. Which way you turn your camera can have a significant effect on the look and feel of your image. Try shooting the subject holding the camera first in portrait mode, then in landscape mode. Then be daring. Turn the camera topsy turvy, and see what you get. Another great idea is to use extreme telephoto and extreme wide angle settings. Shoot close up using a n extreme wide angle lens to distort your subject. Literally get inside or almost inside your subject. The point is to force yourself, and the viewer, to see the world in a new and different way. So go out and take a different view of your surroundings and discover a whole new perspective in regard to the art of photography LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

PSYCHO-GOURMET: ROAD FOODIES

PSYCHO-GOURMET: ROAD FOODIES

BISBEE INVITATIONAL PHOTO SHOW

BISBEE INVITATIONAL PHOTO SHOW UPDATE - On the evening of November 6th, 2010, BizzArt Gallery will host the first annual Bisbee Invitational Photo show (B.I.P.S.). Entrants will be judged in two divisions, Arizona Division - open to photographers residing in Arizona and the Cochise County Division - open to photographers residing in Cochise County. Longtime photographers Larry Elkins and Ann Widmann are co-chairing the show. Terry Etherton, owner of the Etherton Gallery, will act as juror for the competition. An artists' reception will be held at BizzArt Gallery, 41 Brewery Gulch, 5PM - 8PM Saturday, November 6th. - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

THE FUTURE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

DIGITAL IS PHOTOGRAPHY'S FUTURE. FILM IS PHOTOGRAPHY'S PAST. - Now, that pretty much goes without saying. As the years go by, digital will more and more become the dominant photographic medium. Film, in a relatively few years, will be relegated to the status of an alternative photographic process. That being said, where is digital going to take us? I don't have a crystal ball. However, I'd like to suggest just a few possibilities that I think are inevitable. First, more megapixels. One caveat though. The more pixels packed into a given sensor, the more problems you encounter. The main one is each pixel becomes less sensitive to light. How will the camera companies' techies fix the problem? One method might entail creating sensors with more innate sensitivity. Another might be to find a way of packing larger sensors into smaller, lighter cameras. Here's a novel idea - larger pixels. Great. But how do we go about fitting larger pixels into smaller sensors placed in smaller cameras? Seem insurmountable? So did the feat of bringing the size of a computer down from half a city block to the size of a deck of cards. Next on the agenda? Well, how about higher ISOs - much higher ISOs? How about cameras that can be handheld in nearly total darkness? If you look at the photo I used above, you probably won't all that amazed that it was taken at ISO 6400. But prior to the introduction of high speed films such as Kodak's p3200, it was. Another 'no-brainer'? The lines between still photography and video will continue to blur. Most cameras, even the less expensive ones, will allow for both. Another given is that true 3D will become a common feature in consumer cameras. I could go on and on. What about HD easily done in camera? What about tiny cameras mounted on eyeglasses? The point is, we're entering into a whole new universe. It's not just a matter of what we expect will happen. It's all those things we don't even dream of yet. Again, it's somewhat like the futuristic films that envisioned 21st Century computers that were huge colossus's that ran endless reels of magnetic tape. What we imagine for the future is clouded by the realities of our own time. But many of those realities will most likely be stripped away. As the professor says at the end of the BACK TO THE FUTURE trilogy, "The future isn't written yet.".So, hop on the nearest moonbeam, and let's go for a ride. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHURCHES MAKE INTERESTING PHOTO SUBJECTS

PHOTO TIP - CHURCHES MAKE INTERESTING PHOTO SUBJECTS - Churches and chapels, particularly historic ones, make quite interesting subjects for your photography. Try taking both interior and exterior shots. This particular church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Tombstone Arizona, is the oldest Protestant church in present day Arizona. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

IN HONOR OF THE CHILEAN MINERS

I AM POSTING THIS PHOTO OF THE GOOD ENOUGH SILVER MINE IN HONOR OF THE CHILEAN MINERS TRAPPED BENEATH THE EARTH FOR 69 DAYS, AND IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR EVENTUAL RESCUE. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHICKENS HANGING AT RUAMCHOOK-MARKET NEAR CHIANG MAI THAILAND

CHICKENS HANGING AT RUAMCHOOK-MARKET - CHIANG MAI THAILAND - Unlike a market in the States, at a Thai market like Ruamchook, you don't find neatly packaged steaks, chops and chicken leg quarters. Much of the fish available is still swimming in tanks. Whole cows, goats and hogs are being hacked to pieces by numerous butchers. These chickens were being sold with heads and feet still attached. A visit to a market of this type is a real adventure. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

LARRY ELKINS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY - ELKINSPHOTOS.COM

LARRY ELKINS - CHECK OUT ELKINSPHOTOS.COM - Elkinsphotos.com is a gallery website featuring the fine art photography of Bisbee Arizona based photographer Larry Elkins (Yours truly). Elkinsphotos.com features eight fine art photo galleries featuring various facets of my photography. The ELKINSPHOTOS.COM gallery pages include PORTRAITS, NATURE/WILDLIFE, LANDSCAPES, TRAVEL/EVENTS, FINE ART NUDES, ECLECTIC IMAGFS, IMAGES OF ECUADOR and a VINTAGE BASE BALL PHOTO ESSAY. I hope to soon add two additional galleries - CHIANG MAI ADVENTURE & BISBEE AZ IMAGES. Elkinsphotos .com presently holds a Google Page Rank of 3. It is also listed in numerous web directories. In addition, I manage a photography related blog ELKINSPHOTOS-BISBEE AZ as well as numerous photoblogs and a ZIMBIO associated wikizine ELKINS PHOTOS JOURNAL. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS

AUSTRIAN CRYSTAL

AUSTRIAN CRYSTAL - This is a photograph of a large Austrian crystal in a shop window that I took a few years ago. I heightened the saturation of the colors in Photoshop Elements. While the resultant image is certainly not realist, the colors do reflect a heightened version of the actual colors reflected in the crystal. I have a real fondness for this image. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

WHAT IS REAL - WHAT IS FALSE

WHAT IS REAL? - WHAT IS FALSE? - This is a photograph I took of a rattlesnake. If you look closely, you will be able to tell that this photo was taken from a position physically quite close to the snake. The shallow depth of field and the lack of compression of the subject in the photograph are a giveaway. Wow, a highly dangerous position for the photographer (YOUR'S TRULY) to be in. Well, not really. Why is that? Because the photograph was taken under controlled conditions, through glass, with no chance that the coiled rattler would be able to successfully strike at me. So does that make the image a fake? I don't believe it does. But I'm sure there are people out there who will attempt to make the case that if it's not shot in the wild, it's not real. This brings up some questions concerning photographic ethics. First of all, what is the wild? The San Pedro River, located here in Cochise County, is a case in point. If I photograph a beaver, or a pond created by a beaver, that constitutes a photo made of an animal, or a pond, that exists naturally in the wild. On the other hand, a photo taken in a zoo or game park where animals have been introduced by man is less real. Well, guess what? On the San Pedro, named by the Nature Conservancy as one of the last great places in the Northern Hemisphere, the beavers which are thriving there were introduced by man. So, does that mean that if I photograph a beaver, or for that matter a beaver pond, I am faking it? I don't think so. Of course in the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that beavers used to be native to the San Pedro River, that is until man hunted them down and tuned them into beaver felt hats. So, does that mean it's O.K. to shoot beavers on the San Pedro River because (Oh, I mean shoot the beavers with a camera) they were once native to that environment? Well, are certain 'guests' at the Central Park Zoo actually in the wild because they were once native to what is now New York City? In 2009, I photographed blue footed boobies and frigate birds on Isla de la Plata off the coast of Ecuador. There's no question that these birds are native to the island. On the other hand, the trails constructed to provide tourists with access to the birds are in large part man made. So how 'WILD' is it really? And what about the bull snake I photographed in my front yard awhile back? It certainly wasn't in captivity. It was just taking its own good time wandering through. So, the essential question remains. What constitutes 'in the wild' and does it really matter? Oh, and here's another thought to chew on. I'd a whole lot rather see a photographer photographing animals in a zoo than I would knowing that a horde of tourists, having been told that it isn't kosher to photograph animals at a zoo, are descending on the Brazilian rainforest. Especially if they're looking for the nearest luxury hotel so they can gulp a few cold ones down before they ride off in their ATV's in search of exotic animals to shoot in the wild (hopefully with a camera). LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

PRAYING MANTIS

PRAYING MANTIS - As I recall, I have encountered praying mantises on, at most, five occasions during my almost 59 years. That's why it was such a joy a couple of years ago to suddenly encounter dozens of these fascinating little creatures. This was especially so as I was carrying my D-SLR. This shot was one of my favorites from that session. Another was a shot of a male mantis half eaten by its mate. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

THE NUDE LITTLE OLD LADY

Last night, I watched the film 'ELOQUENT NUDE' on the OVATION channel. The film documents the relationship of famed photographer Edward Weston and his wife - collaborator - model Charis Wilson. The film reminded me about an incident that occurred years ago in a community college BLACK & WHITE photography class in which I was enrolled. Pete Larkin, a photographer friend and I, had enrolled in the class largely to obtain darkroom privileges. We were both significantly older than the other students in the class. One evening, Pete and I showed up at class with some items we had obtained during a visit to the University of AZ Center for Creative Photography. One of the items was a photograph taken of Ms. Wilson by Edward Weston when Wilson was twenty one years old. The photograph was a quite famous one, a nude of Ms. Wilson lying face down in the Oceana Sand Dunes. Richard Senti, the class instructor, had formerly been editor of a major photography magazine based in California. I had the Charis Wilson photo on a table where the students could view it. As Richard passed by, he looked at the photo, then at me, and commented, "Oh, Charis Wilson." Then he added, "I knew her in California. She was such a delightful little old lady." The students appeared confused by his comment. I had to laugh. I pointed out that the photo was taken in the mid 1930's. Ms. Wilson, who lived to the age of 95, passed away in November of last year. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

RATTLESNAKE - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

RATTLESNAKE - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL - This photo I took less than a year ago of a live rattlesnake is, if I say so myself, impressive. Why is this so? Well, for one thing, the shallow depth of field and lack of compression of the photo's subject (Ol' Sneaky Snake) indicate that the photo was shot up close and personal. And that indicates that a good deal of danger was involved. Not really. The snake was under containment and the shot was made through glass. There. I fessed up. So is the image less impressive because I didn't put my life in danger? Well, I suspect that that is a matter of individual opinion. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

PHOTO TIP - IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS - When you're photographing still lifes, don't necessarily try to capture the entire object in the photograph. Instead, hone in on the details. For instance, with this saddle, it was the detailing (pun not intended) of the leather that attracted me to the subject. So, instead of photographing the entire saddle, I took the approach of creating a more abstract image, one in which the viewer's mind is allowed to engage the textural quality of the saddle's detailing in a manner that I believe would be more difficult if the entire object, in this case the saddle, was included in the image. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHIANG MAI FLOWER FESTIVAL PARADE PARTICIPANT

ANNUAL CHIANG MAI FLOWER FESTIVAL PARADE - The annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival is held during the first week in February. One of the highlights of the festival is the Floral Parade. The parade features dozens of huge floats decorated with flowers, fruit and seeds. It also features marchers and dancers, including hill tribe villagers, dressed in traditional costumes. The flower festival, and in particular the parade, is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Northern Thailand. Having witnessed this wonderful festival in February 2010, I can attest to the fact that this event is a must see. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

REFLECTION IN THE MOAT AT CHIANG MAI THAILAND

I took this photograph during the February 2010 photo shoot I participated in in the ancient Lanna Kingdom capital Chaing Mai in northern Thailand. This image is of a reflection of buildings located across the highway in the newer portion of the city in the ancient moat that surrounds the original 700 year old portion of the city. These remarkable reflections provide a great photo opportunity for both local and visiting photographers. LARRY ELKINS - LKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

FOCUS THE VIEWER'S ATTENTION ON THE SUBJECT

PHOTO-TIP - FOCUS THE VIEWER'S ATTENTION ON THE SUBJECT - The photograph I'm using to illustrate this article is certainly not one of my favorites. However, for all of its shortcomings, it, in many ways, is an ideal example of how to isolate and emphasize the main subject of the photo. There are several means you can use to emphasize the subject. One method is to keep the background simple. Notice how the unobtrusive background of this photo allows the blossoming plant to stand out. It's also often useful to fill your frame with the subject. This image fills the frame with the subject and, at the same time, does so while providing a strong diagonal that further draws in the viewer's attention. Bear in mind though, that rules are made to be broken. Sometimes a distant object can be utilized effectively as the photo's main subject. Sand and sky with a man riding a camel across the distant horizon can emphasize the rider even though the camel and rider fill only a very small area of the image. Shallow depth of field is a tool often used to isolate the subject. Again, this image provides a subject in focus and a soft, out of focus, background. This image also effectively uses color to cause the subject to stand out from the background. There is one last point I want to make. Placing your subject in compliance with the rule of thirds, is usually an effective means of presentation. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

SMOKIN' HOT

SMOKIN' HOT - I took this photograph at a Kiwanis Club barbecue in Naco Sonora Mexico. This was sort of a throwaway shot. I was surprised when I reviewed this shot by just how well I liked this PHOTO. By chance, everything had come together to create a rather intriguing image. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

MY REBEL'S BETTER THAN YOUR REBEL

REBEL DSLR - EVOLUTION OF A REVOLUTIONARY CAMERA - It's August 2003. Canon announces the introduction of a camera destined to revolutionize digital photography. DRUM ROLL PLEASE! The sky opened and the Canon Digital Rebel (EOS 3ooD) descended to earth. This was the first digital SLR (with a kit zoom lens no less) to hit the market at under $1,000 ($999 to be exact). And this camera packed a hefty 6.3 megapixels. Suddenly, entry level digital photographers with limited financial resources could play ball with the big boys. This was the camera that would take entry level digital photography deep into the 21st Century - or 2005, whichever came first. That's when Canon introduced the Rebel XT, an 8 megapixel wonder that reduced the original Rebel DSLR to a second rate has been. The XT was a Rebel on steroids. Then in August 2006,The California Governator of entry level digital photography stepped forward. The Rebel XT was relegated to the junk heap and the 1o megapixel Rebel XTi (EOS 400D) took center stage. In the Spring of 2009 though, the heavens again opened up and the amazing Canon Rebel XSi (EOS 450D) made its appearance on the world stage. At 12.2 megapixels, this camera had it all. This baby was destined to reign supreme for a long time. Hell would probably freeze over before anything better came along. Then, in March of 2009, Hell froze over, and Canon introduced the Rebel T1i (EOS 500D), with 15.1 mega pixels and video capability. This was the ultimate, a camera for the ages. It just didn't get any better than this. At least not until earlier this year when Canon introduced the new 18 mega pixel Rebel T2i (EOS 550D). Larry Elkins - ELKINSPHOTOS Fine Art Photography

FOCUS POCUS

QUICK PHOTO TIP - When shooting a close up of an insect, don't try to get the whole bug in focus. Focus on a critical area, usually the head, of the insect, then allow the rest of the subject to go soft. In the example above, I have focused in on the critical area. The rest of the insect is slightly soft. This subtly focuses (pun intended) the viewer's attention on the head area of the caterpillar. Larry Elkins - ELKINSPHOTOS

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO OF PHOTOGRAPHER LARRY ELKINS (YOURS TRULY) BY PETE LARKIN - I'm going to use this opportunity to just express some random thoughts concerning the subject of photography. I don't make a living from my photography. I don't even come close. In fact, for me, photography is a hobby, a serious hobby, that actually significantly drains cash from my already insufficient pension from government service. I would definitely be better off financially if I just shucked this whole photography thing. So, why do I persist in this seeming insanity? The answer is simple really. Over the decades I've been engaged in the practice of photography, it has become the focus of my life. And next year, I plan to completely alter my life largely as a result of my love of photography. I'm planning on relocating to Northern Thailand. One reason I'm doing so, is that it will allow me to live a comparable lifestyle a whole lot less expensively. But that's not the main reason I'm contemplating this move halfway across the world. The real lure is the opportunity to spend the next few years photo-documenting S.E. Asia. You may not be in the position I am in. But you may well be in a position to spend a week or two photo-documenting the Grand Canyon, or perhaps Yellowstone National Park. Or, how about photo-documenting your city; New York, New Orleans or say Des Plains Illinois. Or perhaps, your thing is to photograph cracks in the pavement that resemble peoples' faces. It doesn't really matter. What matters is that you pursue whatever project you choose with passion. We all recognize that the photographic universe by been forever altered by digital technology. However, I'm getting a little tired of listening to those who proclaim and complain that any untalented hack can now make great photos because digital cameras do everything for you. Well, this argument is absolute rubbish. Digital cameras are tools. The photographer's creativity and expertise are still the most important elements in the photographic process. Personally though, I do sometimes miss the darkroom experience. Overall though, I wouldn't trade the technology we enjoy now for film technology. And I do know this: The only constant in life is change. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY - LET PHOTOGRAPHY BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF YOUR LIFE'S JOURNEY.

KNICK KNACK

KNICK KNACK - This is a photograph of a kick knack that belonged to my mother. I particularly like the way the image is lit. The lighting is by existing ambient light. Sometimes that's what works. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

IF IT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY ISN'T.

I'VE RECENTLY RECEIVED TWO JOB OFFERS THAT ARE UNBELIEVABLE. AND I MEAN THAT QUITE LITERALLY. The first offer involved my shooting a party somewhere in the state of Georgia. The gentleman wanting to hire me offered to fly me to Georgia and pay my expences while I was there. How great is that? This gem of a guy offered to send me a check for Ten thousand dollars. This check would be made out to me by a friend of his who owed him the money. I was then to deposit the check in my checking account, keep $2000 to cover my fee and flight to Georgia. Then I would send him the additional $8,000 back immediately so he could rent the venue and hire the dancing girls. What a deal. Unfortunately, I had to decline his kind offer due to the fact that I still have a small but significant amount of grey matter between my ears. The second, more recent offer, involved a couple from England who were going to be relocating in Arizona and were just dying to hire me to shoot their 50th wedding anniversary. This one I didn't respond to. Could these offers be legit? Well, perhaps. If I toss a quarter into the air, it could land on its edge rather than heads or tails. And I might walk out onto my front lawn on a beautiful sunny day and get zapped by lighting. But it's not very likely. The moral of this story:If an offer, particularly one received online, sounds too good to be true, IT PROBABLY AIN'T TRUE. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

BIZZART GALLERY-BISBEE AZ

THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH I TOOK, IF MEMORY SERVES ME, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE PHOTO IS OF BIZZART GALLERY, AN ARTS CO-OP LOCATED ON BISBEE'S HISTORIC BREWERY GULCH, A STREET ONCE REPUTED TO HAVE BEEN THE MOST NOTORIOUS STREET IN THE OLD WEST. THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS SHOT AT NIGHT UTILIZING THE EXISTING LIGHT. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

NIGEL BARKER - A PROFILE

WHO IS NIGEL BARKER? Well, Nigel Barker is probably best known as a judge on the popular reality show 'AMERICA'S TOP MODEL' Oh, and by the way, he also photographs the models. For Barker, it's a good fit since he began his career as a model and subsequently gravitated behind the camera. His career began when his mother entered him in a popular U.K. model search. The young model spent the next decade pursuing a career in Europe and New York. In the mid Nineties, Barker changed direction and launched a new career behind the camera lens. He opened a studio in New York. His career quickly took off. His growing reputation netted him the spot on A. N. T. M. Today, Barker pursues his career as a highly respected fashion photographer while showcasing his talents each week on the highly popular Top Model. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH A GHOST

QUICK PHOTO TIP HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH A GHOST - Have a friend stand in a darkened room holding a flashlight under his or her face. Have the friend shine the flashlight upward toward his or her face from below. Automatically, this will create an eerie effect. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

SCENE FROM A JUNGLE RIVER

I took this photograph from aboard a raft floating down a jungle river in northern Thailand. I love the exotic flavor of this image. One problem with the rainforest (or jungle) is that the rainforest itself does not make a good photographic subject. You need to focus on a subject situated in the rainforest. This scene is quite compelling. It exhibits a subject of an exotic nature. I knew when I hit the shutter button that this would result in a very special image. Larry Elkins - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

THE PIN-UP PHOTO - AN OVERVIEW

THE PIN-UP PHOTO - AN OVERVIEW - The precursor of the pin-up can be traced back to Ancient time. From the Venus de Milo to the erotic graffiti adorning the walls of Rome and Pompeii, 'girlie pictures' were a staple of early civilizations. The most direct precursor to the modern (20th Century) pin-up was the French postcard, These risque postcards featured photographic depictions of unclad or scantily clad female models. The term pin-up to denote a mass produced image of a sexy (usually scantily clad) girl dates to the World War II era. Perhaps the iconic pin-up of all time was the photographic poster of swimsuit clad Bettie Grable that was taped to the locker of every American G.I. worth his salt. During the 1950's, Playboy Magazine was the pin-up king. The queen of the pin-ups though was a young brunette model with bangs and considerable bang who went by the name Bettie Page. Bettie did all the normal risque nude and semi-nude magazine layouts. However, Bettie also had a naughtier side. She was no stranger to whips, handcuffs and spankings. This raven haired pin-up queen doubled as the dark queen of fetish. In the 1960's, Penthouse Magazine upped the ante and moved to compete with Playboy by moving away from the more traditional pin-up tease into the world of pornographic imagery. By the 70's, Playboy was featuring more explicit pictorials in an effort to compete with Penthouse. Then Larry Flynt's Hustler Magazine entered the market, featuring hard core pornography, and thus seemingly driving the final nails in the coffin of the traditional pin-up. However, like the unsinkable Mollie Brown, the traditional pin-up proved difficult to keep down. In a world flooded with explicit sexual imagery, the pin-up is enjoying a new lease on life. Magazines like Maxim and S. I. Swimsuit edition are proving that more traditional pin-up style imagery can attract a huge readership. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

LOCK OUT MOISTURE

QUICK PHOTO TIP - MAKESHIFT WEATHERIZER - Always carry with you a ziplock or similar type plastic bag large enough for fit inyour camera and attached lens to fit in. slit the bag to create a hole large enough for the lens to fit through. Have a rubber band handy to wrap around the part of the bag covering the lens in order to create a weather tight seal. Voila. an instant (and quite inexpensive protective casing. Larry Elkins - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

WINDMILL

WWINDMILL - THIS IMAGE OF A WINDMILL IN EARLY MORNING SUN WAS SHOT FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMINO REAL, THE KING'S HIGHWAY, WHICH ONCE RAN FROM PRESENT DAY SANTA FE TO MEXICO CITY. The construction of El Camino Real de Tierra Adento was begun more that Twenty years prior to the landing of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock. For over 300 years, this roadway served as the principle route from Mexico City to the present day Southwestern U.S. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

PROFILE OF EDWARD CURTIS - PART 2

In 1905, Curtis, desperate for money, corresponded with President Theodore Roosevelt, seeking advice on finding a patron to finance his proposed project documenting native American culture. In 1906, Curtis is able to arrange a meeting with financier J. P. Morgan who agrees to bankroll the project to the tune of $75000.00. Curtis' project not only consisted of photographs but was actually a complete documentation of American Indian culture and lore. In 1919, Curtis' wife Clara divorced him and was awarded his studio as well as his original glass negatives which Curtis and his daughter destroyed before she could lay claim to them. This was the beginning of a long downward spiral. In 1927, Curtis was arrested for nonpayment of alimony. Although the charges were soon dropped, Curtis' financial problems continued unabated. In 1928, still desperate for cash, Curtis was forced to seek further financing from the son of his original patron, J.P. Morgan. With the advent of the Great Depression, Curtis' problems further intensified. Only 300 volumes of his works were sold. By the time Curtis passed away in 1952, his name was but a minor footnote in history. It has been only in more recent decades that Curtis has gained renown for his outstanding contribution to the documentation and preservation of native American culture. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

PROFILE OF EDWARD CURTIS PART 1

A PROFILE OF PHOTOGRAPHER EDWARD CURTIS - Famed photographer Edward S. Curtis was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin on February 16th, 1868. Curtis' father Johnson Curtis had served as an army chaplain during the Civil War. At about the age of six, Edward moved with his family to Minnesota, eventually settling in Cordova, Minnesota in 1880. Edward's father, who suffered from ill health resulting from his military service during the war, accepted a position as an evangelist minister. Edward built himself a camera at the age of twelve, and by the age of eighteen, he had become an accomplished photographer. In 1887, Edward and his father, and shortly thereafter, the rest of the family, relocated to the Portland, Oregon area. A short time later, Edward's father passed on. In 1891, Curtis and a partner opened a photography studio in Seattle. Curtis' first serious attempt at photographing native Americans involved portraits he made of Princess Angeline, the daughter of Chief Seattle. It was a chance encounter with two scientists, George B. Grinnell, founder of the Audobon Society, and Clinton Merriam, founder of the National Geographical Society, that set Curtis on the path that would become his career and life's passion. In 1900, Curtis joined Grinnell and Merriam on an expedition to Montana to study the Plains Indians. To be continued (PROFILE OF EDWARD CURTIS - PART 2). LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS

PHOTOGRAPHER'S CODE OF ETHICS

A PHOTOGRAPHER'S CODE OF ETHICS - IT WAS MY INTENT TODAY TO COMPILE A DEFINITIVE LISTING OF A CODE OF ETHICS THAT WOULD APPLY TO ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS. MY CONCLUSION: MUCH EASIER SAID THAN DONE. There are so many different species of photographer that it becomes esceedingly difficult (well nigh impossible) to come up with a comprehensive listing. Various organizations have, of course, come up with listings that apply to practitioners of specific photographic specialties such as nature photography or press photography. These lists are available online. Some of the points are no brainers. Press photographers are encouraged to make truthful images. Nature photographers are encouraged to impact the natural environment as little as possible. But when it comes to compiling an overall listing, the job becomes unmanageable. So I have decided to borrow from the medical fraternity. Here it is, the Photographer's Code of Ethics as compiled by yours truly: "ABOVE ALL, DO NO HARM." Well, it is all encompassing, if not very detailed. I guess if it works for brain surgeons, it should work (SORT OF) for photographers. lARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHUCK FEIL'S TAO OF PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

CHUCK FEIL'S TAO OF PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS - Upon my retirement three + years ago from government service, one of the neatest perks of retirement life turned out to be the opportunity to participate in Chuck Feil's Tao of Photography Workshops. I have had the opportunity of traveling with Chuck to Sedona Arizona, Chihuahua Mexico, the Pacfic coastal rainforest of Ecuador, the Andean village of Villcabamba Ecuador and the ancient city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Chuck, a veteran photographer shares his experience and expertise acquired during a career that has spanned almost a half century. Chuck, who describes himself as a workshop facilitator, affords the opportunity for each participant to explore his or her personal creative vision. I wholeheartedly recommend these extraordinary workshops. For a schedule of this years workshops, I would encourage you to visit Chuck's website PANTERRAGALLERY.COM for information on this year's workshops. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. In terms of transparency, I have received no compensation in exchange for my endorsement of these photography workshops. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

TERRY ETHERTON

TERRY ETHERTON: A PROFILE - Terry Etherton, owner of the Etherton Gallery in Tucson, AZ, is an internationally known dealer in photography and photography appraiser. Etherton's three decades plus career has earned him considerable respect in the art world. His list of clients has included the Museum of Modern Art, the Library of Congress, the J. Paul Getty Museum. the National Portrait Gallery and other equally prestigious institutions. Etherton Gallery has been voted as the number one gallery in Tucson for twelve consecutive years and is widely recognized as one of the top photography galleries in the United States. This coming November, Etherton will be jurying the First Annual (BIPS) Bisbee Invitational Photo Show to be hosted by BizzArt Gallery in Bisbee AZ. Larry Elkins - Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

STOCKING STUFFED WITH A LENS

QUICK PHOTO TIP - NEED A SOFT FOCUS FILTER FAST. Fasten a nylon stocking across the lens with a rubber band. Easy and quick. Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

SPECIAL ALERT

Watch for the upcoming profile on Tucson gallery owner- photography expert Terry Etherton on my next regular blog post. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CARNIVAL GAME

CARNIVAL GAME - I rook this photo handheld at night using KODAK P3200 B&W film rated at ISO 6400. - Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

BIZZART GALLERY TO HOST 1ST ANNUAL BISBEE PHOTO SHOW

PHOTO - COMPACTED CARS BY LARRY ELKINS - This post is directed toward our readers in the State of Arizona. On November 13th, 2010, BIZZART GALLERY, located at 41 Brewery Ave. - Bisbee, Arizona, will host the first annual BISBEE INVITATIONAL PHOTO SHOW (BIPS). This show will be open to all photographers in the State of Arizona (Cochise County Division open to Cochise County residents). This is an opportunity for both amateur and professional photographers in Arizona to submit their work into competition for cash awards and the opportunity to mount an individual show at Bizzart Gallery. Awards of $250 (1st Place) and $100 (2nd Place) will be offered in each of the two divisions. In addition, there will be a Peoples' Choice Award. Award winners will be announced at the November 13th show. The juror for this event will be Terry Etherton, one of America's most respected art experts. Mr. Etherton is the owner of ETHERTON GALLERY in Tucson Arizona. (Watch for my profile of Terry Etherton on my next ELKINSPHOTOS-BISBEE AZ BLOG POST). The entry fee for this event is $25 for up to five entries in either division (with an option for Cochise County residents to enter both divisions for $35). Up to five additional entries may be submitted at an ddditional fee of $5 per entry. BizzArt Gallery photographers Larry Elkins and Ann Widmann will co chair this event. For information and entry forms, contact Ann Widmann at ann@az-image-is.com or call her at 520-432-5174. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

SHAME ON ANDREW BREITBART

SHAME ON ANDREW BREITBART - There are lies of commission and there are lies of omission. Andrew Breitbart is a blatant liar. His main lie is a lie of omission. However, Breitbart also has told numerous lies of commission during the last few days. First, he lied about the NAACP. He stated that the reason he smeared Mrs. Sherrod and cost her her job had nothing to do with her but rather was in retaliation for the charge by the NAACP' that the TEA PARTY is a racist organization. Never mind that the NAACP made no such assertion. Mr. Breitbart isn't one to allow himself to be confused by the facts. What has any of this to do though with photography? Well, nothing actually. However, it has a great deal to do with blogging. and, as a blogger, I feel a moral obligation to address this gross lapse in ethics. And by the way, this also has little to do with ideology. What it does have to do with is the inexcusable actions of a corrupt 'journalist'. I could go on and on. But suffice it to say that Mr.Breitbart is an ethical pygmy. There is plenty of blame to go around here. Breitbart, however, continues to assert that what has happened to Shirley Sherrod was not his doing. He was only trying to wreak revenge on the NAACP. Sherrod just got caught in the crossfire.. To continue the analogy, AND IT'S ONLY AN ANALOGY, what Breitbart actually did was to place a weapon (his blog site) to Sherrod's forehead and pulled the trigger. SO, SHAME ON ANDREW BREITBART. - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

WHO OWNS THE PHOTO?

I recently had a question from a photographer concerning photo ownership. Her employers, a law firm, have asked her to photograph The firm's lawyers for the firm's use. She want to know who owns the rights to the photos. My answer is that as I'm not an attorney I am not legally competent to advise. However, in her circumstance, I would assume that ownership would be with the law firm unless some agreement in writing is entered into by the parties that stipulates otherwise. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS

HOW TO RECRUIT A NUDE MODEL

HOW TO RECRUIT A NUDE MODEL - I'm going to attempt not to repeat information provided in the first and second posts in this series on finding and recruiting models. You should, however read or re-read those posts. Now, there are three basic options for finding and recruiting nude models. The first is family and friends. The problem is, it's a small model pool. The second option is to hire pro models through an agency or attend a workshop that provides pro models. The problem is, it's going to be quite expensive. The third, and probably most viable, option is to recruit amateur and/or semi professional models. Walking up to someone on the street, handing out a business card and saying "Would you consider modeling nude for me?", sometimes actually works, but don't count on it. If you use this approach, a better way of introducing yourself is to offer to meet with the prospective model and show her (or him) a portfolio of your work. Either suggest a public place for the meet and/or suggest that she bring a friend or spouse to the meeting. If you can, try to meet prospective models at an art or photography opening or at a photography class or workshop. This makes it a bit easier to approach the prospective model and to establish a degree of trust. An approach I have personally found yields a high degree of success is to attend a nude life drawing class. The models you access there are already comfortable with nudity. Of ten, they will be interested in modeling nude for a photographer. One caveat here. She's going to expect to make considerably more than she makes modeling for a drawing class or modeling privately for a painter. However the contact is made, the next step is to develop trust with the model. Be patient. This can take time. One smart approach is to initially recruit the model for sessions that do not involve nudity. Also, always give the model an option of bringing a friend to the session. However, discourage the model bringing her boyfriend. This can sometimes be a problem. Now, let's discuss a couple of important issues. First, ALWAYS make certain the model is of legal age. Don't just take the model's word for it. YOU MAKE CERTAIN. Second, be sure to get a proper model release. And, it goes without saying, SHOW THE MODEL RESPECT. There's not much more I can add. There's no magic formula. You'll need to learn by trial and error what works best for you. Good luck and best wishes. Larry Elkins - Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

APOLOGY

I APOLOGIZE TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE FACT THAT I HAVEN'T POSTED ON THIS SITE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. i HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH PERSONAL MATTERS INCLUDING PREPARING FOR MY 40TH HIGH SCHOOL REUNION. hOPE TO HAVE THE THIRD AND FINAL SEGMENT ON RECRUITING MODELS POSTED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. LARRY ELKINS - -ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

BAS RELIEF

BAS RELIEF - I took this photograph of a portion of a bas relief that decorated a building in Bisbee Arizona that formerly served as the city's high school. The decoration was removed when the old high school, which now houses county offices, was remodeled. I shot this panel at the Bisbee Restoration Museum where it now resides. The Old Bisbee High building was listed in Ripley's Believe It Or Not because the four story building, which is built up the side of a hill, boasts four ground levels entrances, one to each of its four floors. Larry Elkins - Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

NEWS ALERT

NEWS ALERT - BIZZART GALLERY / BISBEE ARIZONA WILL HOST THE FIRST ANNUAL (B.I.P.S.) BISBEE INVITATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2010. LOOK FOR WEEKLY UPDATES ON THIS BLOG. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

RECRUITING A NUDE MODEL PART 1

RECRUITING A NUDE MODEL / PART 1 --- THE DOOFUS SQUAD (OR HOW NOT TO RECRUIT AND WORK WITH A NUDE MODEL - Mistake #1 ... I had a young lady who I knew was under eighteen by about six months ask to model (nude) for me. When I refused to hire her, her response was that she had worked for a certain photographer who had told her she didn't have to be of age to model nude. She just had to state that she was of age on the model release. I recently heard that this photographer was being investigated by legal authorities. Mistake #2 ... A college art professor asked a female student to model nude for him. When the young Lady arrived at his studio, everything seemed on the up and up. However, partway through the session, there was a knock on the door. As it turned out, it was the professor's wife. The model suddenly found herself unceremoniously shoved into a closet with her clothing tossed in after her. After the photographer's wife was gotten rid of, he opened the closet door and asked the model to resume posing. The young lady commented that if he was that quick to lie to his wife, why should she trust him. She quickly dressed and left. Mistake #3 ... The Big Boorish Blockhead - This is the photographer... who manages to make the model muy uncomfortable. Whether putting the make on the model, playing touchy feely, or trying to bully the model into doing things she's uncomfortable with. he's not only going to run off the model he's working with. She'll spread the word. He'd better get used to shooting still lifes. One final word. If you fit one or more of these profiles, not only are you asking for trouble. You're also a lousy excuse for a human being. Next post: Strategies for recruiting nude and semi nude models. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

RECRUITING TFCD MODELS

TFCD or time for CD denotes a co-operative arrangement between a photographer and model whereby the photographer provides the model with a CD of photos for a portfolio in exchange for the model's services. For you old codgers out there like me, it's the same as TFP (time for photos). I received a request yesterday from a photographer who I'll refer to as A.G. A.G. Has been finding it difficult of late to recruit TFCD models and was hoping that I might provide some strategies for recruitment. Personally, I seldom work TFCD. In most cases, I'm paying models. However, I told A.G. that I would attempt to come up with some strategies. As this is a common problem among photographers, I thought I would share these strategies with you. Probably the least effective strategy is to simply approach someone on the street, hand her a business card and say, "Would you consider modeling for me." Believe it or not though, sometimes this works. It's actually worth trying this simply because you're not investing that much in the process. It takes only a moment or two of your time. Colleges and universities provide a fertile ground for recruitment. A.G. resides in a relatively small town. There are no public colleges or universities in the immediate area. However, there is a private college nearby. So here's an obvious strategy. Most colleges have life class. This is a class where art students draw from a live nude model. Even if you're needing clothed models, this is a good place to begin. If you can obtain introduction through students or faculty, these models may be interested in obtaining work that will help in building a portfolio. You may have to expend a good deal of effort in gaining access to these potential models. However, the chances that one or more of the school's life models will be interested in your proposal is quite high. Also, art students in general are a good resource. Some of them might be willing to model. More importantly, they may have used friends or fellow students as models and would be willing to hook you up. Another no brainer? If the college features photography classes, get to know the students. Some of them might be interested in TFCD or a straight "I'll model for you if you'll model for me." arrangement. And don't forget the Theater Dept. Acting students are prime candidates. Also, consider posting flyers around campus and the surrounding neighborhood. College students in general are often receptive to 'for trade' arrangements. A.G. lives within a short distance of a medium sized city. A medium sized city could well support a community theater. If so, this might prove to be a major resource for model recruitment. A city of moderate size may even be home to a small modeling academy. Also, Don't forget local scholarship (beauty) pageants. One final idea is this. Consider contacting local clothing boutiques. They may be interested in providing models (perhaps customers of the boutique) in exchange for photos of their clothing being modeled, photos they can use in their advertisements. One word of advice - always obtain model releases and, if you do a trade arrangement with a boutique, obtain a release for usage of photos of the clothing. Now as to how this relate to A.G., I hope some of this will prove of help. I wish there was some piece of info I could impart that would convey a formula that would make recruitment easy. So far as I know, no such formula exists. Next up, while we're talking models, I'll discuss strategies for procuring nude and semi nude models. This gets even more complex. So long for now.

BE A SPORT

QUICK PHOTO TIP - When shooting sports activities (such as baseball games), remember to use the sports mode setting on your digital camera. It will dramatically increase your chance of capturing the decisive moment. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE

As you have most likely noticed, a lot of changes are taking place here on ELKINSPHOTOS-BISBEE AZ. The blog is over one year old now, and I thought it time for some upgrades. Because my intent was not to make this a photo blog but rather a blog about photography, I have heretofore shy'd away from posting very many of my photographs on the blog. I have decided to deviate from that policy in two respects. I will use photos, when appropriate, to illustrate posts, and I will, once or twice a week, post a photo with info on how the photo came about and-or how the photo was made. The second significant change is that I am using a new more sophisticated template. I believe both these changes will make the blog more attractive and fun to read. I hope you will feel free to comment on these changes and will let me know what directions you would like to see the blog take. Thank you for your loyalty. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

SHADES #2

This photo was taken on location. However, it was then extensively post processed. I believe that the processing has resulted in a very unique look. The hat and oversized sunglasses add to the distinctive look and feel of this image

TRAVELIN' MAN

I've recently been seeing a lot of ads for tutorials designed to teach prospective travel photographers how to shoot travel photos that look just like the images you see on commercial postcards. Well, guess what? Everyone's already seen the images on those postcards. If your potential customer wanted a 'postcard' image, he (or she) probably would simply opt to buy the postcard. Bottom line: As a travel photographer, you want to produce unique views of exotic locations, NOT POSTCARD IMAGES. That is, of course, assuming you're not working for a postcard company. As an example of what I mean, let's discuss one of the most iconic locations in the world. Are we talking Paris.France with the Eiffel Tower in the background? Or, perhaps, the Great Wall of China? Nope. We're talkin' someplace located less than thirty miles from my home town of Bisbee Arizona. We're talkin' TOMBSTONE - THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE. In one sense, Tombstone may be just a little podunk town in S.E. Arizona. On the other hand, I met a Thai woman while in Chiang Mai who, when she heard I was from Arizona, proudly related to me the story of her and her husband's visit to - where else - Tombstone, Arizona. Even Captain Kirk and crew members of the Starship Enterprise managed to beam down to Tombstone in the Star Trek episode 'SPECTRE OF THE GUN'. And that's about as iconic as it gets. So, you've traveled from Philly to Arizona, and now yer jest itchin' to explo'e th' Ol' West. Yehaw! You're walkin' down historic Allen Street at high noon on a Saturday. This is your one chance to shoot (with a camera) the town where the Earps and Doc Holiday faced down the Clanton gang. And your goose is not just cooked. It's cremated. Why? Well, the town is full of tourists. Your chance of obtaining an image that will wow the viewer, for starters one that does not feature modern day tourists, is about the same as your chances of flying to the moon by flapping your arms real fast. Take a look at my images above. What don't you see? Tourists. Why? Well, the images were made in the late afternoon on a weekday, maybe Wednesday, probably during the off season. Imagine the color version, colors most likely slightly more saturated, shot at a time of day when the shadow would not be there, and with the town crawling with tourists, and you have the image everyone else took. The sepia image, on the other hand, screams VINTAGE OLD WEST. Definitely a better choice. Now a photog friend of mine, Pete Larkin, took a nighttime photo of the same street, historic Allen Street. The photo featured, (quite prominently) a modern sign emblazoned with the words LOADING ZONE. Well. that ruined an otherwise usable image, right? That would have most likely been the case but for the Old West gunfighter leaning against the sign, LOADING BULLETS INTO HIS SIX SHOOTER. Okay, so you've got your establishing shot. Now you're gunning (pun intended) for interesting detail scenes. So, wow, you've stumbled across the old wagon sitting just off the street at the intersection. And what luck. You manage to include the Whole Monte in your composition. Your friend Jim, on the other hand, settled for a shot that mostly just included one of the wheels with some sort of bird standing by the wheel. He's out of luck. So why, back home in Philly two weeks later, is everyone oohing and awing over Jim's photo and avoiding yours like it stinks of cow pattie? First off, nothing says Old West like a bird, that is if the bird's a roadrunner. Second, the service station in the background of your photo screams "This ain't the Old West!!!", at the top of its lungs. It's called an anachronism. And sometimes anachronisms work, like when a gunman is loading his gun next to a loading zone sign. In your case though, it just sits there stinking of cow pattie. The bottom line on all this is that you, the travel photographer, want to make interesting, intriguing & UNIQUE images of fascinating travel destinations. Do that and your friends will stand in line to view your travel images. Bring back twenty five images of the Eiffel tower with Aunt Ethel Mae standing in front of it, or images that are virtually identical to Cousin Timmy's postcards he brought back for everyone upon his return from Paris, and those same friends will run for the hills, and not look back. Larry Elkins - Elkinsphotos