Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Portfolio Book of Robert Wright: A Photographer living in NYC
Portfolio Book
I love the simple elegance of this book... and you should see the photos. I love them as well. Such a great body of work.
Just wishing he would start writing some more.
Sure You Have a Blog... But What Does It Do For You?
This post is to accompany the discussion on photgrapher's blogs and the strategy, if any, that should be employed. That discussion will be on Sunday evening at 6PM Pacific, 9PM Eastern, August 22, 2010.
To be sure, there are a lot of photographers with a lot of personal reasons to have a blog, and this discussion is not directed toward anyone who is currently happy with their blog, its content and the audience it attracts. I am not here to try to change anyones mind. Do what makes you happy.
This discussion is for the photographers who are NOT sure what they should do - or even if they should have one at all? There are many questions to be asked, and we want to look at them from a 'goal - directed' standpoint.
If your goal is to write about your gear, that's fine with me. Lots of photographers do. If you want to share stories from our side of the lens, that is great as well. And to the philosophers and motivators and keepers of the traditions, fantastic that you are there and working hard on so many fronts.
And if you are happy working on what you are doing, great. We are not here to dissuade you or in any way denigrate your great work.
However, if you are starting out as a photographer, you must think long and hard about what kind of blog you want to have. And I see what I consider to be way too many blogs about learning the craft of photography, and blogs that train or teach photography, and blogs that remind the viewer that the photographer is a beginner.
I don't want to hire a photographer who is working on finding a way to use his meter... ya know. Some things are a given. Posts on the angst of a first shoot, or the ponderings of a 'worst day ever' shoot are not going to give serious clients a reason to call you.
Nor is being ecstatic over your new lens. Or Pocket Wizard. Or lens baby. That stuff is a given when you are a professional. And clients rarely are interested in the tools and insider gear talk that photographers seem to love so much.
To me it shows a problem in the defining of the audience. Why would a photographer want to have other photographers as his/her main audience? Well, he/she could be a workshop teacher (www.learntolight.com), or an author, or provide tools of the trade, or even as someone who is just so technically minded that it simply is the thing that makes them tick. All fine and dandy.
But what if you are trying to start out as a photographer in the rough and tumble world of editorial, fashion and advertising? What would a blog for other photographers do for you? If I was a wedding photographer would I want 2000 photographers reading my blog, or 2000 soon to be brides reading my blog. And, by the way, brides are not interested in your new lens or what kind of radio trigger you use... are they?
So first we define our goal, then we define our audience. Once those are defined, we will know what kind of content to provide to be of interest to the audiences we have chosen to reach.
Direct to client photographers should look at talking to their prospects,,, moms, brides to be, seniors, and the people who support them like wedding planners and dress stores, Becoming a resource to brides and the people who plan weddings would seem to be more of a strategic move than a blog about lenses, Talking to seniors about how cool the senior session can be, providing a sharing forum, and becoming a resource for that group would be a sure way to increase visibility and top of mind interest.
Commercial shooters need to get in front of Art Directors, Editors, Photo buyers, MarCom directors and Corporate art buyers. Fashion photographers must look for ways to become on the radar of that special group of fashion editors that hire fashion photographers.
Now, for sure, what I am advocating is a bit harder than writing about that which you know so easily. It means working to find a voice, and refining that voice to a point where it can cut through the noise of so many bloggers. And if you are hoping for a magic bullet moment, you can stop reading now. There isn't one, It will take a lot of hard work and soul searching to find what you need to do... kinda like when you are out there struggling to find a vision and style for your photography.
This will be the focus of our discussion this evening at the beginning of our show. At midpoint, we will be joined by HipHop Music Photographer, John Ricard who will discuss music photography in the "big apple." Bring questions.
I have compiled a few photographer bloggers who have created blogs that speak to their work, the work they do for clients, and the clients interests and the communities at large that they need to reach to get more attention and more assignments.
Will Steacy discusses the art of his art, as well as the things that catch his fancy. The blog features his art, and the musings of the artist as he creates.
Richard Renaldi discusses the world of photography with emphasis on large format work. He reviews shows and books and provides inspiration for the portrait work he loves. Not a how-to blog, but one of images and stories.
Jonathan Saunders (I Like to Tell Stories) the focus is on visual storytelling. A very popular blog for people who like using photographs to illustrate or define stories.
Jeff Singer shows work, discusses the business, and even chats a bit about gear in a fresh way that keeps him interesting to non-gear heads too.
Ben Huff discusses his work and how it is an integral part of his life. Lots to think about and lots to see.
John Loomis takes us through projects he is working on, shows new work and discusses recent assignments.
This very small list can get your ideas flowing maybe... or provide a new way of thinking about what you do. There are many more and I encourage you to look for them. See the blog rolls on each of these blogs to explore.
I have been tasked to discuss these 4 questions this evening:
1. Why not talk about gear if gear is what you love to talk about?
2. What part should your family play in the blog - if any?
3. If we are to write about what we know, and gear is what we know most about, doesn't it stand to reason we should discuss gear?
4. Is it important to remain positive in your blog? If you are going to be "authentic" you may have to include some negative aspects of the work. Right?
We will do that and also discuss how to find your voice, what kind of strategies you can use to find what you love to write about and answer questions from the audience. As always, I am not the definitive answer on anything. I have opinions based on more than assumptions, so take them for what they are, and do - or do not.
See you all at 6PM Pacific, 9PM Eastern for our chat about blogs for photographers. www.lighting-essentials.com
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Pre-Designed Websites for... wait for it... Webdesigners. Seriously? Unbelievable.
One Page Portfolio sites is increasingly popular nowadays. Today I would like to share 33 One Page WordPress & HTML themes from ThemeForest. You can purchase (aff) and download instantly.
If I knew any designer with a free or dirt cheap theme - designed by someone else - as their website, I think I would have a great email campaign. Now, I am not into slamming others, but come on man, these guys can't design their own sites? Why in hell would I want them to design mine?
Or yours?
Friday, August 20, 2010
New Website Design: "Black Knight" is simplicity and elegance, with a very clean interface.
Great for commercial shooters with a more corporate / business / industrial feel.
But still retaining an artistic edge to the imagery.
Full CMS, single level navigation, fast loading, SEO, and a focus on projects. See more at www.dongiannatti.com/sales
Thursday, August 19, 2010
There's a Word for this kind of shit...
What a friggin loseragencycreepyguy.
A Photo Editor - Have I Told You How HUGE This Opportunity Is?:
"This kind of thing is usually relegated to the lower realms of photography but it’s nice to see Advertising Agency Latcha and Associates would like to include car photographers by seeing if they will shoot samples on spec. From their “Shoot A Sample” brief:
- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Kiss My Ass, Margaret Carleson
Commentary » Blog Archive » The Perils of Praise:
"Margaret Carlson argues that Obama is too smart for us: “He is so supremely confident in his intellect that he forgets, on his way to the correct decision, to slow down and pick up not-so-gifted stragglers.”
- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
A New Farmhouse in Ohio
iPhone photograph (2G)
Don Giannatti:
www.dongiannatti.com / www.lighting-essentials.com / www.learntolight.com / www.steelid.com / 602 814 1468
You really Can't Make This Stuff Up
Indianapolis auto workers drive UAW executives out of meeting:Oh man.
"The incident once again exposes the immense class divide between workers and union officials, who are working actively with the auto companies to drive down wages and eliminate benefits.
You really Can't Make This Stuff Up
Indianapolis auto workers drive UAW executives out of meeting:Oh man.
"The incident once again exposes the immense class divide between workers and union officials, who are working actively with the auto companies to drive down wages and eliminate benefits.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
My Entry in the Chase Jarvis Shoe Project (@chasejarvis - I need to send these shoes out... to somebody)
This thing started a couple of years ago. The shoes were sent out to 'photographers' who held on to them for months at a time.
The website: http://www.chasejarvisshoeproject.com/A. Will not log me on.
B. Will not send me my lost passwordThe Flickr Forum seems to be totally dead.The email I have for someone "in charge" doesn't get answered.The Blog that people are sent to for more information hasn't been updated since early June. So I have a pair of shoes in a box, and I cannot find who to send them to next.If anyone is involved in this project, please get in touch with me with some information.If Chase is still involved, please let me know if you have anyone who is still connected. Thank you.
NOTE: NEW PHONE NUMBER: 602 814 1468
Don Giannatti:
New Media Photographer Podcast has some great content this week. And an interview with Wizwow - that's me!
This week: Rosh interviews photographer Don Giannatti.
- New Media Photographer: A photographer who publishes to the web.
- Time: 45:00
- Podcast hosted by Rosh Sillars
- This podcast is about new media, social media and digital marketing for the photographer.
- Topics on this week’s show: Social media for Droid, weather bug, evernote, delicious.com, twitter.com/wizwow. Are you losing opportunities? Little rant from Rosh, Leaving home. Trevor Current social media post
Very honored to have had the opportunity to chat with Rosh this past week. Thanks, Rosh. It is a very good podcast all around, man.
The "Editorial" - a Website Design for the photographer who wants to show their work as 'stories'. Simple look with lots of flexibility.
Full CMS
Expandable "Story" grid
Full HTML/CSS for validation
Single Level Navigation
Large Image Slide Show on home page
Easy to Manage
Social Media Icons
Customized Colors
Three possible Gallery Options
www.dongiannatti.com/sales
NOTE: NEW PHONE NUMBER: 602 814 1468
Don Giannatti:
www.dongiannatti.com / www.lighting-essentials.com / www.learntolight.com / www.steelid.com / 602 814 1468
Y! messenger: dgiannatti 
Skype: wizwow 
AIM: wizwow 
Google Talk: don.giannatti
Monday, August 16, 2010
"Will This Be On the Test?" and other reasons that "being the best" is difficult for most photographers
Recently there was a post on a forum that asked "Did You Ever Think You Could Be the Best?"
And sadly, many responses were of the "No, I only want to be fairly good", or "Well, those people are special". Or simply a concern that it was too hard.
Bullshit.
It is simply as hard as being the best in anything.
There was once a young skater who wanted to be the best. She was very young. She worked very hard. It has been said that she was the first one on the ice in the morning and the last off at the end of the night. She fell more in a day than most ice skaters do in a week.
There was a basketball player who had some pretty good moves, but not all that impressive when matched with taller, faster opponents. The coach of his first team noted that he was already on the court working out when the rest of the team came in and he was still practicing when the rest of the team was heading home. A young actor with nearly no experience wrote a screenplay about an 'everyman' who beats the odds and does the impossible. The studios told him they loved it and wanted to do it - with another actor. He responded "No, I wrote it for me and I am the actor." They said they would pass... he told them fine and went home. Later... they called and said, yeah, OK, they would reconsider. The young screenwriter breathed a sigh of relief for sure. A director had a purchased the rights to a movie and was awaiting the greenlight from the studio who had been fronting him a ton of cash... at the very last minute the studio refused to greenlight the project in a power-play to force the director into relinquishing the rights to the movie because he couldn't pay them back the money they had fronted him. Unfortunately a typical play in the hell-hole of Hollywood. He had less than a few days to get backing from someone else or he would have to give the rights to the studio. He talked to studio after studio and was turned down... until he had lunch with the head of NewLine Cinema who cut him a check for a couple million right there at lunch. The trades announced that NewLine had committed studio suicide with the untested director and the ambitious project that would "never be made." A photographer we know loved shooting babies. She was simply enamored of shooting babies and it was all she wanted to do. She took her book to the big city and was told that there was no future in shooting babies, and that her work was a little cloying... perhaps she should branch out and shoot other things. Tara Lipinski won Olympic Gold at 15.Charles Barkely was one of Basketball's greats.
Sylvestor Stallone made Rocky and a few dozen sequels.
"The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy was a huge success for director Peter Jackson - and NewLine
Anne Geddes makes millions shooting what she loves. Can you be one of the greats?
Sure.
Maybe.
Talent.
Perseverance.
A Little More Talent.
Drive.
Vision.
Self Starter.
Self Motivated.
Self Aware.
Someone who others like to be around.
A Desire to do whatever it takes to succeed.
... And a work ethic that simply dwarfs the competition.
In fact, work ethic can trump talent (Kanye? Disney kids?)
(On second thought, forget talent if you got a lot of peeps with cash behind you, but we digress...)
Being able to juggle the good time and the bad times and saving when you should and spending when you shouldn't and taking risks that are far far far above what most people will EVER risk... that will get you to the first rung. It is terrifying, thrilling, depressing, exhilerating and downright effin fun being a photographer. But it is also a lot of hard work. Work we generally don't see on all those glitzy BTS videos with the music and the models and the lights... yeah. It's all like that.
Except for the other 90% which simply isn't.
What I see a lot of is the "will this be on the test?" mentality in young shooters. Even on forums (yeah, seriously) there will be questions that practically say "I really don't have time to do this and learn it, can you guys simply tell me how to do this without me having to read and actually LEARN stuff?"
Will this be on the test? Of course there is a bit of luck, and there is some realities. I once had a friend tell me they wanted to be a Country Western Singer ( and he had the chops and the looks) so he was going to move... ... ... to Denver. I would have though maybe, uhhh, Nashville? If you want to shoot fashion, there is a little island just east of New Jersey. It is called Manhattan. It is where you have to live... at least for a while. "I want to be a fashion shooter so I am moving to...a. Memphis."
b. New York."
c. Dayton."
d. Phoenix." Which would you choose? If you really wanted to be a fashion photographer that is. Is it easy? NO.
Is all the above something that just anybody can do? No... and I think the biggest problem is fear.
Fear is what makes someone ask "Will this be on the test?"
Fear stops us from going one more step to make it even better.
Fear keeps us making the safe shots instead of pushing to the limits with the possibility of failure.
Fear makes us timid about possibilities and forces us to keep to the path well traveled.
Fear keeps us happy being mediocre.
Fear challenges our ideas of what we can do, and wins too many times.
The people who astound us, who make it look easy, who challenge the status quo and simply destroy it have all of the above.
And way less fear than most of the rest of us.
Hank Aaron held the home run record for a long, long time.
He also held the strike-out record for a long, long time.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Kid, 16, Made His First Million Dollars Following His Hero, Steve Jobs
In an age of idiotized kids who can't focus on anything, we salute you, Christian.
“Most universities in these situations try to be open" - Yeah, but this is Harvard. Ground Zero for the Ruling Class
Inquiry on Harvard Lab Threatens Ripple Effect - NYTimes.com:
"So far only one of Dr. Hauser’s articles has been retracted, for unspecified reasons, and two have been amended. Harvard has given no reason for the retraction, leaving researchers to wonder whether that article alone was flawed or whether all of Dr. Hauser’s results are suspect. He and his students have published widely in fields ranging from animal communication to the nature of morality.
“Most universities in these situations try to be open because that is usually the best policy,” said Michael Tomasello, a leading psychologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. “We have no statement from anyone, just one withdrawn paper. The scientific community needs to know if this was a quirk or a pattern.”
- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Da! DaState Vill Care for Da Poor... Und Dey Vill Like It
Well, coming from this 'state' we'll just nod our heads. Their track record really isn't one I am ready to totally forget.
The State. Bwahahahaha,
The state giveth - and the state taketh away - if you don't vote vith da leader.
Negative Reaction to Charity Campaign: German Millionaires Criticize Gates' 'Giving Pledge' - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International:- Sent using Google Toolbar"
"The pledge has been criticized in Germany, with millionaires saying donations shouldn't replace duties that would be better carried out by the state"
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Saturday Morning: New Site Design: I call it "ORLEANS" - I have no idea why. Just seemed right to me.
Usual accouterments and manageability.
I like the simplicity of this site as well as the very clean presentation it makes 'above the fold'.See more sites for sale at www.dongiannatti.com/salesFriday, August 13, 2010
$2.2 Million or a Lawsuit
1. What is the present state of the dickheadmuthafukin prosecutor and his jackasswad team of FAILURES?
2. The judge that sentenced him to jail? What is that fat fuka doing now? Livin large on the public dole?
3. Are there any cops who helped perpetrate this travesty still on the job? How about we see how many more INNOCENT people they railroaded into prison.
Remember lawschool you friggin cretins? Remember Justice?
Yeah... weird old word that gets in the way of merrily committing legal fraud and criminal neglect.
Better 100 guilty go free than lock up one innocent man.
And one last thing. The prosecutor, judge and cops who fucked up so badly on this... how do they feel about the victims that came later... after they fucked up and incarcerated the wrong guy? Are they cool with that? Just 'doing our jobs' and damn the reality?
And then to have the request languish for 3 years... THREE YEARS... while they did - what? I thought that justice was the name of the game. Speedy trial and all that?
Bullshit.
He ought to take the $2million and then sue everyone BUT the state. And then the legislature needs to go back to work to prevent the criminal 'ruling class lawyers' from ever blackmailing someone into not pointing out how FUCKING INCOMPETENT they are.
Whose head will roll for robbing this man of 27 years of his life? Will anyone even lose a nights sleep over it? Don't kid yourself... they couldn't fucking care less.
Me... if it happened to me?
Well, let's just say it would have a very different, very bad ending if they had done this to me.
Fuckers.
Ex-Inmate’s Dilemma - $2.2 Million or a Lawsuit - NYTimes.com:
"He wrote the motion himself on a typewriter in his cell and sent it to the trial judge in July 2005. The judge assigned a public defender to handle the request, but the motion languished for three years in a backlog of requests before the Harris County district attorney’s office.
- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Yes. We can tell.
Presidential Reading:Yes. That strategy is working out nicely.
"'Yeah, you have very little chance to really read. I basically floss my teeth and watch Sports Center.''
And Bush was an idiot?
Oh, pleeeeeze.
Newest Website Design for Photographers: "Cotton". Ready to go site or have it customized a bit. I like the subtle elements and the clean look.
Full CMS
Images 750x500px for large viewing.
Single level navigation.
3 - 6 Projects
Social Media links
Home page copy for SEO
3 - 4 portfolios
About / Contact pages
Don
NOTE: NEW PHONE NUMBER: 602 814 1468
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Floaty Things. Las Vegas
iPhone Photograph
NOTE: NEW PHONE NUMBER: 602 814 1468
Posted via email from Don Giannatti's 365 Photo Blog Project
This is a photograph of me with subliminal embedded message meant to influence Scott Kelby into letting me guest blog. (day2)
OK, so I stole it from the spider... still, it does have a very nice appeal.
1. I have a cool hat.2. Notice the piano in the background to subtly intimate that I like music and therefor am trustworthy and 'cool'
3. A slightly scraggy beard... very artistic.
4. Pictures of my kids who will be devastated to find out that their father never reached his full potential.
5. MacBook - a Black MacBook. (Black is the subliminal message that I am a professional mac user person... user.
6. Did I mention the hat?Day two on my quest to be a guest blogger at Scott Kelby's Blog
What Hope? | The New Republic
Tragically.
What Hope? | The New Republic: "Still, at the end of day, as Wax puts it:
"The government cannot make people watch less television, talk to their children, or read more books. It cannot ordain domestic order, harmony, tranquility, stability, or other conditions conducive to academic success and the development of sound character. Nor can it determine how families structure their interactions and routines or how family resources—including time and money—are expended. Large-scale programs are especially ineffective in changing attitudes and values toward learning, work, and marriage."
It would have been rather callous if anyone wrote this a few years past the Great Society heyday, when little could be known as to whether a New New Deal was going to turn black America upside down. But now these truths must be stated.
Jobs picture dims as unemployment claims rise "Unexpectedly?"
News? You want news? How about an investigation into why the hell the lamestreemmedia keeps going back to the 'analysts' who are consistently wrong, 'surprised' or flummoxed by what millions of Americans simply know. I wasn't surprised. This isn't 'unexpected'... it is a natural evolution of what the new destiny for America is. You wanted change... you got it.
Jobs picture dims as unemployment claims rise - Yahoo! Finance:Emphasis mine. You don't think the media would actually highlight this fact... hell, they probably got it on a 'hot key'. Analysts had expected a drop. - That means they were wrong. Again. And again and again.
"First-time claims for jobless benefits edged up by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 484,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Analysts had expected a drop. That's the highest total since February.
Morons. They are ALL morons.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
A Photo Editor speaks his mind on Photo Contests. Is the Fix In? Well, Sorta, He Says...
Yes, I believe the contests are fixed to some degree. I don’t blame the organizers or the judges necessarily, it really comes down to the herd mentality of the photography business.
First, you have the taste of the judges. Many are hiring from the same pool of photographers and even if they are not there’s the simple math that if two judges kind of like something, then they agree and you have a winner. As opposed to one judge loving something and another hating it. That would be the loser. Add into this the simple economics of the photography business where the people in charge, the owners CEO’s, CFO’s and EIC’s, define successful photography as photography found in successful magazines.
Second, you really can’t look at contests as a source of new talent. They really amount to a nice group back slap for another year in the business doing good work.
"...it really comes down to the herd mentality of the photography business...."
Wow. Just wow. So true, and damn brave thing to say considering how closed the business is.
"...the owners CEO’s, CFO’s and EIC’s, define successful photography as photography found in successful magazines...."
Well, there is that too.
"... They really amount to a nice group back slap for another year in the business doing good work...."
Just like the Oscars and Emmys and Music awards. Yawning and fawning over each other while sycophantic fans march in lockstep adoration of such mediocrity that it makes me sick.
Special Opportunity for anyone needing a top of the line printed "portfolio" for their business
NOTE: NEW PHONE NUMBER: 602 814 1468
Second Side-by-side Comparison of 7MP iPhone App and Regular iPhone Camera
I started to think about a different scenario.
What if we wanted to shoot an 8x10 image on the iPhone.I shot the same item with both cameras.This time no processing at all on either image other than a web-sharpen which was applied equally to each image. I left the 7MP at it's capture size, and then rez'd up the regular iPhone image to match the larger file.I think that the 7MP actually performs quite well here. Smoother transitions, a bit sharper edges and slightly more definition on the white lines. Interesting - it does seem like the 7MP does pretty well.Hmmmm....