Noah Hutson

I'm doing some work for a local non-profit, The Childrens Hunger Alliance.  They work to raise awareness about hungry and starving children as well as providing children and families access to food and information on healthy foods and diet.  They've got a series of summer programs going to raise awareness and help some folks out.  I'll be shooting at many of them to get images germain to each event and to grab some stock images for the organizations website and promotional materials.  My first shoot for CHA was at a home where a woman works as a state baby sitter taking care of several other children as well as her own.  The CHA along with other partners spruced up her daycare area as well as her home.  This particular image comes from a few quick run and gun shots I grabbed.

Friday excellence returns this week back to back with last weeks installment. It's been a hectic week but more updates next week will make up for the absence this week.

Many photographers strive and push their entire lives to produce a volume of work worthy of book publication. Mary Ellen Mark has reached this dream and more, publishing 16 books over her 40 plus year career. A consummate portrait artist, her black and white images deliver a documentary style that’s been cultivated her entire lifetime. Most portrait photographers endeavor to bring out the personality of their subjects within a photograph. Mark does this but then takes things a step further by injecting the images with a little bit of herself as well. Many are just a little dark and brooding, but they take us to a place we’ve never been before, be it a Mexican rodeo or the sullen ominous side of Marlon Brando.

Cig Harvey is one of my absolute favorites. She’s not only an accomplished artist, she’s also done work for the likes of Kate Spade, The NY Times Style Magazine and Ralph Lauren. Many of her images have a light, airy mood to them and evoke feelings of mystery and intrigue. Looking at them makes you want to delve into the world each subject lives in and learn more about what they’re doing. If you’re into Harvey’s style she teaches a class at the Maine Multimedia Workshops. The price is phenomenal for the chance to learn with a photographer like her.

Enjoy!

Shooting Kari's shoes is sort of an ongoing project.  It gives me the chance to re-visit a similar subject multiple times.  Each time I'm pushed to try something a little different.  Things would get pretty stale if I presented each pair in the same manner.  Ironically though it's also my goal to present each pair in a way that I could replicate for multiple shoes styles.  If a client asks for catalog shots other than the standard white background "silo" shots I've got a few tricks up my sleeve.  This particular setup utilizes two lights bounced into a white board.  The light then streams through a sheer silk and onto the shoes which sit immediately in front of it.  I love the perspective lines that the floorboards create.

Plus eventually she'll have a way cool record of every shoe she owns.  :)

On another note I've got some pretty handy links to share...

Jim Talkington is sharing some great how-to advice and general advice about the commercial photo industry via his blog.  Check out his weekly how-to video series...there's even a cameo from yours truly!  http://prophotolife.com 

Stock website Photoshelter has begun posting to a blog that outlines great tips and info on creating and submitting to stock sites.  If your a stock shooter you can even submit information you've gleaned through your work.  If your not a stock shooter you'd better start reading!  http://blog.photoshelter.com/school/

www.birthepiontek.com

Piontek exhibited at the Jen Bekman gallery not too long ago.  She's also been named by PDN as one of thier young photographers to watch.  I personally think she bridges the gap between fine art and commercial very well.