I know you’re probably wondering where yesterday and today’s videos are. Don’t worry, they’ll be back, even better than before. This was sort of a pilot program. If you’ve ever fallen in love with a great TV series only to go back and watch the first episode, you’ll notice some similarities to the videos on here. There was lots of good, but there was also a few areas of suck.

Why the pilot series? The longer I live, the more I believe in pushing ahead and correcting as you go, as opposed to waiting until everything is perfect before even trying. Things are never perfect. I appreciate all of the feedback over these last two weeks or so.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at a few of the changes:

• We’re building a new set.
• We may be changing the URL (After all, this is just my photography blog.)
• We’re cranking the “practical” knob all the way to eleven.
• We’re turning down the suck knob.
• We’re narrowing the target audience.
• Hopefully we’re taking out all my “ums” and “uhhs.”
• On the back end we’re streamlining the production process.

Basically I don’t want to make videos just for the sake of making videos. I want to create THE practical, definitive guide to photography on the web in video form. I want you–whoever “you” may be–to be able to take these videos and become a professional quality photographer even if you never do it for a living. I’ve more than put in my 10,000 hours, and if I could, I’d open my head and copy and paste it into yours, but that technology is still sketchy at the moment. That’s why I’m doing it in video form. I believe it’s the quickest way for you to learn and apply the skills that it takes to create outstanding images. It’s not about being smarter, it’s about taking better pictures. All that, and I want it to be free and entertaining. That’s not asking too much is it?

Stay tuned. The first episode of the new series will be premiering just after New Year’s Day. Ask for a DSLR for Christmas and follow along.

daniel

Hey people. It’s Sunday and the last place I want to be is sitting at my computer blogging. So this is a prerecorded post. Yes, prerecorded, and anything interesting that I’ve found during the week is free game. I just thought this up on Thursday, so I don’t have much for this week, but I did come across some good stuff.

Funny:
The Internet Explained For Noobs
I know some people that seem to believe this about the internet.

Cool:
Seitz Cameras Be sure to check out the sample images.

Now go sit back and relax. It’s Sunday.
daniel

About a week ago, I had the amazing privilege of giving back by shooting a group of people who protect the rest of us. Lt. Shane Cook of the Monroe County Fire Department invited me down to shoot a “training exercise.” Basically that means taking a dilapidated house and burning it to the ground in a somewhat controlled way.  They’d already spent months gutting all the nasty chemical containing insulation and such, so basically it was a wooden shell. It was an awesome way to spend the weekend, and the firefighters were so grateful.

Here’s their leader. He was a really great guy, and I could tell everyone really respected him. I love how this picture captures the seriousness of what they do. After all, they literally are “playing with fire.”

I learned that different helmets signify the rank. Black = Firefighter, Yellow = Leuitenant, Red = Captain, White=Chief, and Pink=?!?!? (Breast Cancer Awareness)

It’s really amazing how many pieces there are to their turnout gear and just how fast they can get into it. These people are absolutely fearless.

They light shipping pallets on fire and use that to simulate furniture and such. They send a team in, put it almost out, then rotate the lead person to the back while the fire builds back up. As long as they contain the fire from getting through the ceiling (done by the “attic team”) they can rinse and repeat for quite a while. Here a team is waiting on the fire to build back up.

I love this photo. It almost reminds me of something of a warrior in a sci-fi movie. This was taken standing on the porch. The heat was so intense I was actually worried about damaging my camera. Anything to get the shot though, right?

After they had done all the training, they “let it go.” That’s firefighter speak for “house-sized-bonfire” and “spray water in the air so it doesn’t melt the power lines.” Fun times.

Here’s a shot my intrepid side-kick Sarah got while the house was going up in flames. I’m not quite sure of the meaning of the word “intrepid,” but it sounds cool, and I hadn’t used it yet today. That’s Shane and me there in the foreground. That’s right, I got to wear one of his cool yellow lieutenant helmets.

Here’s what it looks like when they get through “training.”

I doubt I’ll be picking up a hose anytime soon, but I totally get why they do it. Firefighters are some of the most fearless people in the world, and I have nothing but respect for the jobs they do. Thank you.

Busy creating some video content for this website today. Yes, I’m still in the photography business, but what many of you may not know is that I perfected my lighting skills on the set of national TV shows. Sometimes in the past I’ve felt like a photographer that couldn’t seem to get away from a video camera. Now my photography “still” camera shoots 1080p video! What’s a guy supposed to do? Actually, I’m loving it. I’m looking forward to the day when the video and still camera market will be one in the same.

Why hire a professional?
I read an interesting conversation on one of the professional photography forums today. There’s a longstanding complaint by sourpusses that technology will do away with the need for talent and skill. At the rate technology is moving, in ten years why would someone pay a professional photographer thousands of dollars to shoot a wedding when their friend that does photography as a hobby can do it for free? One particular photographer made the outstanding point that as technology has made it easier for amateurs with next to no skill to make better pictures than the could have ten years ago on film, technology has also raised the bar of what is expected from a professional photographer. I know that my own craft has benefited greatly from things like digital and high ISO settings.

At the end of the day I’m excited for everyone in this situation. Technology is paving a way for both hobbyist and professional photographers to capture stories in more captivating ways. I have no doubt that the need for the professional photographer will still be here when the time comes for my grand kids’ weddings. After all, people don’t hire my camera, they hire me.

Welcome to my new photo blogsite. It’s a blog. It’s a website. It’s both. With the power of wordpress these days there’s becoming less and less reason to hand code websites. Just grab a template that’s got good bones, customize it to the moon and back using firebug, and presto! Your very own personalized website with a built in CMS.

So, what does this mean to those of you who have been following me for a while? While I’m starting from the ground up with pictures again (maybe I’ll stick my old website up someday if you’re looking for older pictures), hopefully it means that I’ll be posting more regularly so you’ll have even more of a reason to come here.

As I write this, I’ve got just one hour before I head to shoot a wedding for a long time friend. I was in the honor’s program in college with the bride, but actually got the job through the groom’s mother who I used to work with. Small world. I couldn’t believe it when the mother told me who the bride was. Those will probably be the first pictures on the blog. Keep checking back this week.

Grace and Peace,
Daniel