I got an email asking me to share the shoot I did in the slot canyons with Lauren Hurlbut. I have most of the pictures on Instagram but not specifically all in one link like it would be if I were still uploading things to tumblr. Oh well. The photographer wanted to reference my images for a shoot he'll be doing in a similar location. "My idea is to make my shoot along the lines of the ones you did with Lauren: poses, composition, etc. Since it is one of my first shots, I want to work along some ...
Dec 07, 2016•31 min
A quick response to the podcast yesterday. To get better models you need a better portfolio. Right? Right. But is that what I said? I try and go more in depth to the response yesterday. Inappropriate photographers, variety (depth and specificity), Instagram image selection/layout, create and control your audience's attention, shooting for ArsenicTV, and more.
Nov 19, 2016•39 min
I kind of think that this was once a blog post or possibly even another podcast. Too bad. One of the most common questions in my workshops is "What does it take for any given photographer to do what I do?" Most often this question takes the form of, "How do I get to shoot beautiful fashion models naked like you?" Admittedly there isn't a simple answer. That said, much of what I do is managing perceptions, particularly in the form of my online presence. The podcast explores a few of the moving pa...
Nov 15, 2016•28 min
This podcast is long. But it rewards you in spades if you listen all the way through. It's one of the few that I actually like. When was the last time you heard me say that! This podcast is the result of a conversation I had with a model earlier in the day. We talked about my style and the evolution of that style. She asked me who my favorite photographers (Avedon/Demarchelier) were and I attempted to feebly explain why I don't follow in their footsteps even though they were my role models. I co...
Nov 11, 2016•1 hr
Did I just make a podcast talking about cycling pain? Jesus Christ. So why do I ride the Rose Bowl group ride Tuesdays/Thursdays? It's dangerous. Painful. And yet it gives me so much. Except what exactly does it give me? And what, if any, are the ties to photography? Listen and find out.
Nov 09, 2016•26 min
Disclaimer: This stuff is really technical. If you're not interested in color accuracy and listening to my thoughts about it, then this podcast is definitely not for you. This (probably too long of a) podcast is about my brief history with color accurate displays and my challenges and experiences with them. There's about 30 minutes of history as I run through what I bought and why. And then there's about 10 minutes of drawing real conclusions. That's where the real value is. If you want the Clif...
Nov 08, 2016•41 min
In a Facebook conversation with some photographers I wound up showing some of the shots from the last podcast. Yeah, the one where I said I was disappointed in the results because I wasn't getting proper variety and also that she was always on the ground. Well, I was wrong. Kind of. It turned out to be one of the best sets I've shot. So what gives? Did I just lie to you guys for entertainment value? Not exactly. What it boils down to is flow vs. design. You can plan all you want but when push co...
Nov 04, 2016•16 min
When the photographer make rookie mistakes during the shoot and the retoucher has to polish these turds. Homey don't play that! This is what happens when you think you're better than you really are. Unfortunately for me, I am both the photographer and the retoucher so basically I'm upset at myself. And yes, at some point in the past I actually thought there wasn't much left for me to learn in photography. Tisk tisk tisk.
Nov 01, 2016•25 min
Let's say hypothetically your model requests specific photos from the shoot? What do you do? And hypothetically, why does she even have any photos to reference? Oh you hypothetically let her take phone pics of the pictures on your camera? You hypothetical dumbass. This podcast is about process and how specific parts of the process are sacred (yes, all of it).
Oct 29, 2016•26 min
Sometimes we don't see the forest from the trees. Sometimes we polish turds. The point is that as photographers this is a tough lesson to learn. Also, being away gives you new perspective. Can we be more optimistic? Why should we be more optimistic? How does one cultivate creativity?
Oct 26, 2016•36 min
LOL :) For the record San Gabriel Valley is 200 square miles. "This is Really Hard. This is Really Really Hard."
Oct 08, 2016•32 min
The following is the formal exposé to the topic. It was written to Tabatha for her professors and her to read for her photography class. As such, there is much overlap between the podcast and the written version below, but not entirely: This was supposed to be a review of my experience with my intern Tabatha, but it evolved into a commentary of theory vs. practice. Let me first be clear that my time with Tabatha was short. 30-40 days spread out a couple times a week a couple hours at a time is h...
Aug 29, 2016•22 min
Rather than be a critical about Capture One shortcomings, I look at this question from the other direction. What the hell did I want out of Capture One? The podcast I referenced Capture One (Part III) http://lucima.podomatic.com/entry/2016-08-11T23_38_43-07_00 edit: I really wish C1 had a gradient tool!
Aug 24, 2016•22 min
Philadelphia is not part of New England. Listen past the point when I prematurely end the podcast. There's a "post script" portion to the podcast. I'm going to stop saying "you know", you know? Wow, there's a really rough learning lesson at the end of the podcast. Brutal. Charles you dream killer, you. Okay, I'm happier with this podcast.
Aug 23, 2016•35 min
Please forgive me for sounding tired and drowsy. It's a little early for podcasting (apparently). I'll try not to fire up the recorder at 8AM anymore. In this podcast I talk about philosophy of shooting. And Tabatha's critique of my philosophy of shooting. Her conclusion was that I had no philosophy. If you can get through the groggy retelling of the premise, hopefully you'll be handsomely rewarded with some insight to my style of shooting. Hopefully. And handsomely.
Aug 22, 2016•30 min
My 30-day trial is over. Now I have to make a decision. Do I buy it or not? My sentiments have shifted over the full 30 days and the answer might surprise you. The word of the day is CONVERGE.
Aug 12, 2016•19 min
Ken Scott from Digital Transitions invited me to come check their Phase One cameras. Here are my thoughts on my drive over. Then some thoughts on the DJI Phantom 4.
Aug 09, 2016•21 min
5 years ago I went into the local hobby shop to inquire about an RC helicopter capable of handling a DSLR payload. Sans camera and 2nd operator the estimate topped $8k. I failed to mention this in the podcast but this is probably the starting point of it all. Some more background information for you to consider. All the cool "flying shots" in all the videos I've ever done were shot with either long depth of field or failing continuously while racking focus and increasing/decreasing shooting dist...
Aug 03, 2016•36 min
This podcast was supposed to come out before Bait and Switch (Part I) but I released them out of order. Talking about Vegas, a clients, ArsenicTV, treats!, social media, monetizing your audience. "Are we having fun yet?"
Aug 02, 2016•20 min
Nearly a year ago, I told you guys a story about a model who pulled a fast one on me. She agreed to shoot nudity in our texts and then when I arrived to our shoot she reneged on our agreement. (Rules of Engagement and True Intentions http://lucima.podomatic.com/entry/2015-07-29T11_47_11-07_00) So it happened again. Except the outcome was totally different. What changed? How do I feel this time? What is the effective difference between the last time this happened and this time?
Jul 27, 2016•18 min
Talking about gripes! Philosophical ones at least. 1. Heavy dependence upon technology 2. Some benefits come with technology 3. Staying current and how often do you update? 4. Using technology to keep things fresh 5. It's an incremental advantage/improvement that doesn't "rock my world" What accounts for the different look of the new images created with Capture One as part of the workflow? - Compounding of little adjustments with new tools (in conjunction with old tools). - 10 parts vision, 1 pa...
Jul 26, 2016•22 min
In this podcast, I delve a little deeper into Capture One and talk about the specific differences that comprise of the tangible visible difference that I asked about in the Facebook Workshop Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/185656974814125/) . Here are the notes: - default sharpening - default noise reduction - "a bunch of little files" - Capture One vs. Lightroom programming - integrating C1 into my workflow - hybridized system like Trillian/IM+ for chat - C1 color wheel vs. curves - C1 h...
Jul 22, 2016•26 min
This podcast is about my experience with Capture One. But in order to fully explain my experience and why I'm even looking at Capture One, I have to give you an account of my hardware/software up until this point. This means telling stories about my storage setup, specifically the OWC Helios Accelsior PCIe 480GB which serves as my scratch disk (https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/PCIe_Chassis/Mercury_Helios_Accelsior_E2/Buy_Now). I talk about my raw/non-raw workflow and how I think about...
Jul 20, 2016•30 min
This is a podcast about how I think through questions and answers. A little "behind-the-scenes" look at how I think. If you're so inclined.
Jul 19, 2016•13 min
Question: Where did you learn about posing models or are you fortunate enough to have models that already know what looks good?
Jul 13, 2016•28 min
SD card failure update. (Re) Examining a few assumptions in my workflow that I haven't looked at in years. Raw converters, Lightroom/Capture One, Photoshop, autofocus modes. Talking about adopting (other) new technologies. As a small extension to our previous conversation(s) Art and Process talking about mental perspectives change day-to-day and how to ensure that it doesn't ruin your mojo.
Jul 11, 2016•31 min
In the context of shooting a couple tests in one day, I put the new Sony A7RII through the gauntlet and give you guys some very early feedback. Oh and my Sony 32GB 94MB/s card corrupts during the shoot. Thus putting me behind the 8-ball and forcing me to get creative for the rest of the shoot. Maybe I like that pressure? Blessing in disguise?
Jul 10, 2016•28 min
Check out (https://www.facebook.com/groups/185656974814125/) for the original post for this reaction. Read this first before listening to the podcast: This was supposed to be a podcast. I recorded it and it sounds horrible. Therefore you’ll have to suffer through the written form of the podcast. In the last podcast, I looked for some redeeming value to my perspective of “my pictures are not special”. This post is my final response to that perspective. If you’re thinking, “But you came up with th...
Jul 05, 2016•25 min
Round 2! FIGHT! :) Goddamnit, I just listened to this podcast and I can't remember a word of what I said. Either I didn't say anything important or I simply wasn't listening to myself. I wonder if I should be offended? Either for not saying something more memorable or for not paying attention. Thinking about this hurts my brain. Well if I missed any references that I was supposed to document, let me know!
Jun 30, 2016•32 min
Gallery shows, art, process Do the pictures tell the audience something about me that perhaps I'm not aware of or that the audience isn't aware of? Either obviously or subliminally? Maybe nothing? But if push came to shove I might say it tells you that I'm highly left-brained. And that's why I don't see my work as "art"? Honestly if you really want to know how I come up with these pictures, it's all in what I say (here) combined with what I do (there). Doesn't get any clearer.
Jun 27, 2016•38 min
