I have ceased blogging about photography. There are so many other great blogs to read so click on the "blog patrol" link in the side bar if your looking for photography related stuff.
I have been consumed with my new project/job. I am writing about and photographing my life as a New Orleans cab driver. It's been quite a fun ride so far. Check it out at:
www.crescentcityhack.blogspot.com
Type rest of the post here
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Pause in the chronicle
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
nolarhythm video #1 wrapped
So we just wrapped on the first Nolarhythm.com video shoot. I've mentioned the site in previous posts. It's been slow going since the inception of the site but hopefully things will start picking up now.
Click the jump for more on the first shoot.
The idea behind nolarhythm.com is to help local musicians promote themselves. We are currently in talks with one of New Orleans favorite radio stations. Hopefully this partnership comes to fruition because it will allow us to focus solely on producing content for New Orleans musicians. We intend on having daily music listings in the very near future and that's where the partnership comes in. As of now though we are in the process of creating our first few videos to promote the look, style and idea of the sites content.
The very talented Daryn agreed to shoot the first video for Nolarhythm.com. Our first shoot together was of New Orleans band FELIX at the Pearl Lounge. He scored a Letus set up for us to use. I must say I was impressed. I am completely thrilled to be working with Daryn and I hope it turns into more videos in the future. The Letus was also a dream. It allows you to use 35mm lenses on a video camera (in our case, Nikon). This gave us complete control over our depth of field which on video cameras is usually lacking. All in all I think the shoot went really well. I should get a chance to look over the footage sometime tomorrow. Felix did a delightfully wacky, bang up job. I have high hopes for this band and not just because I know them. I truly think that they are one of the best bands in New Orleans and I am so excited to have them as Nolarhythm video #1. And now they'll have a video to use to promote themselves for FREE. Yup, that's how we do it!!
Now we wait on the edit. I will be sure to let everyone know when it goes on line. Thanks to everyone involved, thanks to Jay, the Pearl Lounge, Nathan, Daryn, the other Jay, and of course the band.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
tearing it up...
Slow...
That's the pace of life right now. I shot a few pics of former UFC fighter Rich Clementi for the North Shore Report that will hopefully produce my first glossy tear sheet.
I'll talk more about Rich Clementi after the article gets published. City Business should be doing an article on him also.
Since this blog is supposed to be about learning the ropes and fighting your way into the business I should explain Tear Sheets. Tear sheets originally came about before digital (as I understand). When you showed your portfolio to an agent or an art director/photo editor sometimes you would include (or have in a separate book) some tear sheets. If you were published in a magazine you would literally tear the page right out of the magazine. This would show prospective clients that someone else had confidence in you to hire you and you delivered... I guess.
I've been published quite a few times but I've yet to have a print in a glossy mag. I'm not in love with the pictures but, hey, it's a start. Hopefully they like them enough to run one on the cover!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
a state of the media address
In case you are not aware print media is feeling the crunch big time right now and it is directly affecting us in the photography world. Budgets are shrinking and generally less work is available.
Full on rant about the media after the jump.
I just read an article on cnn's website about e-ink and e-readers. I've been telling people about this for at least a year now. The entire magazine industry is folding it seems. Print media and the people who run major publications have had a hell of a time trying to figure out how to take advantage of the net. Now, I would much prefer to look and read a magazine any day. But lets say I have an e-reader and I can pay a small monthly fee (the fee must be small because there is so much available for free on the net) and download every Conde Nast publication or say any magazine or newspaper I want. Now that is pretty f'ing cool. I'd sacrifice the luxury of paper and printed material to be able to scan through anything I want. Would you? I agree wholeheartedly that having coffee and reading the newspaper (do people still read newspapers) is a wonderful combo. But things change and they can no longer support the insane overhead of printing and delivery. Several prominent papers have already, or will fold within the year. Magazines are dropping off like flies. Fact is, print media is on it's last leg. So if the e-reader is the solution then bring it on. We as a society need newspapers no matter how much bullsh*t they feed us.
My friend Rich (writer for a weekly paper in New Orleans) and I were talking about the state of the media the other day. The public needs news and information from reputable sources. Sources that have a code of ethics under which they operate. Now, of course, that statement is not lost on me. I do understand that the 'media' is a profit based mechanism. So, sure, they might not concentrate on the important issues or offer the most in depth stories because... well they have ad space to worry about. The idea of a code of ethics may be an oxymoron but, I digress. Back to Rich, he told me that in print his articles are 800 words but on the net the same article expands to 2000. Wow.
With myself more involved in the production of visual content I am excited about what is in store. It's just such a shame that the media hasn't stepped up to the challenge. Take for example Rich's 2000 word story on the web. Why not also publish along with it 3-4 BIG photographs? Or a multimedia piece with it? Big media doesn't understand our visual society and they sure as hell don't understand people who have, and are growing up with the internet. That's why. So instead Rich's 2000 word article has the same photograph as the 800 printed article. Oh, and it's tiny... like 300 pixel tiny... hm.
I told Rich, "If only someone would give you and I $60,000 dollars to produce news content over the web about New Orleans for a year. We could really make a difference." It wouldn't be your run of the mill site. Small pictures, fluff articles. We wouldn't have to hold our punches back because of some silly corporate structure. Big pictures, multimedia works involving photos video and audio. Stories that matter, stories that delve into the real reasons as to why our Mayor is such a manipulative... expletive. It would be powerful. Why? Because we understand the net and how to utilize it. We aren't some crusty old farts perched high above the rest of society. I would imagine that after that year, Rich and I would be able to sell advertising on our site and generate a profit.
That's the question though. How much profit can be generated from the internet advertising? I hear the same thing all the time. "Um, well, internet advertising rates are really low and it doesn't generate that much money." Yet!! (Of, course this is all barring this financial crisis we are in). It will generate huge profits in the future!!! Trust me. Internet advertising is a very direct form of advertising because of all the little spyware and other evil things we have in our computers. It isn't the shotgun blast that print advertising is. As soon as the advertising world and the print media understand this they will be able to utilize it much more effectively. And, of course, as soon as the print media dies advertisers will need a place to coax people into being consumer whores. When print media dies internet advertising revenue will grow infinitely!
Finally, I will give one last example. Well over a year ago I went into a local publication that focuses on the Music scene here. I offered a plan to editor. It was a complete restructuring of their website. The idea was to make it more user friendly, more in depth, more interactive, and utilize the web to reach a broader audience. It was an advertising based structure that would use it's own advertising to generate content for the site. A self sufficient model. The first thing the editor said was, "If I sell advertising over the net then what will happen to my print advertising?" Really that was a rhetorical question and was uttered with such contempt from the editor that I nearly walked out. I was then told that I had no idea on how the whole thing worked and besides, they already spent 3g's updating their site two years earlier. Well, I really was just trying to help this editor out. I was trying to show the editor how the publication could use the web to their advantage but it was lost. Apparently, now they are looking to re-tool their website. Probably because in this economic climate they are having a hard time convincing people to pay $1500 for an ad. I wish them luck, but I doubt they'll get it right.
I've decided to go it alone. So far I've convinced a major radio station down here and a sundance accepted filmmaker of the possibilities of such a website. It's an entirely different take on an old business model. And everyone is incredibly excited about being a part of it.
This whole shift in print media is a matter of adaption and ingenuity. Something that most of the CEO's of this world have a hard time with. This, proven by the pathetic and terrible mistakes within the music and movie industry and their battles with the net.
Change is inevitable.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
pics from Mardi Gras 09'
Mardi Gras 09' snapshots are up! Click here!
Just jpegs straight out of the camera. I was shooting from the hip most of the time because I hate being the guy with the camera who misses all the fun. I would say 75% of the time I wasn't even looking through the viewfinder. I love shooting from the hip and being in big crowds gives me a chance to practice.
http://www.oneshotremedy.com/mardigras09.php in case ya missed it above.
Friday, February 20, 2009
style vs. trend
What is style? It's a very important thing when it comes to photography, especially portraits. Sometimes I think people confuse style with trend. A friend and I were talking about just that early this morning. Or at least I was talking that at her. When I read about photography and the business of getting and shooting editorial work I get a little frustrated. I thumb through magazines, look online and read about photography constantly. There is a lot that I don't understand about the professional world of photography. At times is seems that the magazine editorial world is jumping on trends as much as the fashion world. It seems to me the industry has become over-sensationalized.
I think the industry has sacrificed a very important aspect of portrait photography. A good portait for me is an accurate representation of my interaction with the sitter. When I am photographing someone I try my best to find a connection with that person. When I do a good job of that then it shows in my photos. That is what I think the industry has sacrificed. In it's place they have put slick lighting and photoshop techniques. There is a weird detachment trend in photography these days. Where the sitter seems detached from the photographer and in turn the viewer of the photograph is detached. But all the shiny beautiful light draws everyone back in.
I guess this rant is born out of the frustration that I don't have that super identifiable style. I resist trends, or at least I try to. I want honest photos. Arnold Newman said, "We do not take pictures with our cameras, but our hearts and minds". Arnold Newman, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Yousuf Karsh. Their work is amazing. That is what inspires me. One day I hope to have a body work like them.
People have said that they like my photos because they feel like they know the sitter in the image. I think that comes through in a good portrait. So maybe in this "detached" era of portait photography that will be what sets me apart. Maybe that's my style...
oh Mardi Gras pt 2
The internet is truly fascinating. I write this silly blog and someone from Malasyia logs on and reads it... Apparantly, someone has also put a link to my blog on their facebook account... Um, please let me know if your doing this!! Common curtusy isn't it?
Well, with Mardi Gras now in full swing I have no choice but to concede it's victory over me. I spent an hour driving 3 miles yesterday trying to get to work. I was on the road a full hour and 45 mins before any parade was about to roll... But when I got to work, all stressed out, Paul made it all fade away. The Rolling Elvi set up shop at St. Joe's before there were to roll with the Muses parade. Paul takes on a whole different personality when he is in his red jump suit and it made my day. I unfortunately didn't take any pics of the group because I had planned to skip out on work to go shoot them as they rolled past the corner of Jefferson & Magazine. The crowd was too dense though and I just gave up. I'm not the most ambitious person when it comes to photographing or taking part in parades...
I spent the majority of last night at the Hi Ho Lounge photographing musicians. Felix played, along with DJ Urine (from paris), MC Trachiotomy and his band and a few others. I plan on posting a BIG photo blog once Mardi Gras is over with all the pics in one spot. So hold out a few days. It was a great night with crazy music. I wish there would've been more people to witness the show.
I may have lined up a photo of DJ Urine while he's in town too! If you haven't seen or heard this guy you should. It's SIC (sic)! It's definitely out there, some might say noise pollution. I say it's mad genious!
I woke up today with my right eye in serious pain. I have a stye in my eye! Under my eyelid! and it hurts like all hell. I hope it goes away by monday because I'd like to shoot more photos and it hurts too much to put a camera to my eye and scan the viewfinder.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Counting the ways
Oh Mardi Gras... How much do I love you? Ha! It's the time of year when you're supposed to love New Orleans. This is how I know I'm still a northerner. It's the time of year when everything slows to a crawl and we all indulged in a little fun before lent... Ha! As if we don't do this year round. It's the time of year when you spend an entire two weeks planning everything based on parade schedules. Every year I see Mardi Gras as a test of my patience. It really is New Orleans way of making me stop and enjoy myself. But I still get aggravated that everything ceases during Mardi Gras. It's a terrible time to try and get things done. So, I must tell myself every year that I will just enjoy it. Celebrate. Have some fun...
I end up working myself to death during Mardi Gras. It takes to much out of me to deal with all the drunkards. By the time I have a chance to let loose I'm usually too pooped. "Not this year, it'll be different." I say. I have some wonderful plans this year. Thursday I may be running around in the Muses parade photographing the Rolling Elvi. I'm not sure yet but I hope so. No fun to be had until Sunday night after that but it'll all be worth it. I should have Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras off this year. My old Friend Jen will be in town so that's another bonus!
Mardi Gras day will be spent taking pictures for the most part. Here's a few snapshots from 07' & 06' (I slept all Mardi Gras day last year)..JPG)
.JPG)
06'
ll
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
?
I don't know what's going on but I've had a crazy surge in hits on my website over the last two days. Great, but kinda weird. I wonder where all these people are coming from. Last time I had this big of a surge was after shooting Josh Wexler. But that was no surprise cause Wex probably told half the population of New Orleans about it.
Shooting a portrait of my friend Chase tomorrow. Hopefully there are beautiful marshmellowy clouds floating around. I'll have some quick edits after the weekend.
Came across a great video at A Photo Editor from the TED conference. Author Elizabeth Glibert talks about being a creative. Rob Haggart gives a great description so read his.
yeah, that's all I got.
Thank you, nikon
Nikon finally introduces a prime lens for the DX format! It's about friggin' time Nikon. It's a 35mm f1.8 DX lens which means it's about the equivalent of a 50mm on a full frame camera. If you've ever shot photographs on a 35mm film camera you probably used and loved your 50mm. Nikon, I'm glad you realized that there are some of us who love the perspective of a standard prime lens and like shallow depth of field!
Expand blog for the link
http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/content_display/news/e3ib2336cb7507211a241ba900cc4d9f640
I've been waiting for this lens for a loooooonnnngggg time. There are rumors that a replacement to the d300 will come at PMA next month now. I sure hope so because after Mardi Gras I plan on investing in a new camera!
Monday, February 9, 2009
film film film film
I shot a roll of slide film through my rz67 last night! I'm so happy I got that beast working again. It's the first roll of film I've shot in probably 6 months. I got a little tipsy and decided I wanted to get some test shots for a new photo project. I'm sure the film will not look so good. I was shooting at a bar (the Bulldog) where my friend Adem works. It was very low-light and I intentionally under exposed. When I dropped the film off I decided to "push" the film 1/2 stop. (For those who don't know, you can cheat a little with film and over develop it). When I was younger I "pushed" almost every roll of film I shot. I was very dedicated to getting the most out of whatever film I was using. I was also very dedicated to experimenting with every roll of film I shot. I've basically forgotten all the little tricks since I made the jump to digital but I look forward to re-learning them.
I love digital but I miss film. Considering the fact that I probably won't be able to afford a new Dslr anytime soon I need to get re-acquainted with my rz and slide film again. I've had the idea for this photo project for a long time. I had planned to shoot it with my rz67 originally but then it crapped out. Then I decided I'd sit on the project until I bought my new Dslr but then Gustav, and the holidays and medical expenses consumed all the money I saved up. Damn. But, with the rz67 working again I can finally get to work on it!!!!!
So now the wait is on. One thing I truly love about film is the anticipation. Did I nail the exposure? Was pushing E6 slide film 1/2 stop a stupid idea (probably)? Did I remember to switch the back off of multiple exposure? With digital I find myself always looking at the little screen on the back making sure everything was there. As if I didn't know what I was doing. I love shooting film because you don't know for sure. You just have to trust yourself and fire away.
I've been looking at a bunch of photographers work from back in the day. I appreciate their work so much. It wasn't always absolutely perfect. There were flaws because you couldn't see it immediately (like digital) and remedy it or spend hours on an image in photoshop. You just have to trust yourself...
I've been reading Annie Leibovitz new book. She talks about how bad of a photographer she was in the early days. How poorly her negatives were exposed and how she owed so much to the people who did her processing. It's a good book but a lot of the stuff I've already read in various other sources. But I do get a kick out of Annie talking about how most of the time (early on) she had no idea what she was doing.
Anyway, I got off track...
I will get the film back sometime next week. Then I'll have to scan it. I'm sure it'll all be worth it. There is nothing better than holding a big old piece of slide film in your hands. So, once I know everything is back in order with the rz67 I can get to work on the "barflies" project.
I'm very excited about this project. Whenever I talk to anyone about it their eyes light up. New Orleans has so many crazy bars and I can't think of anyone who has documented it in the way that I am going to. Hopefully next week I'll have some samples. But for now I have to figure out the best ways to light big dark spaces...
Friday, February 6, 2009
my invitation was lost in the mail
If your a fan of Rock and Roll and photography then head over to What's the Jackanory where he has posted a video of legend Jim Marshall speaking about his photographs. Hosted by Platon in his studio in New York.
Damn!! I wish I lived in New York sometimes. There's always something fantastic going on. Not that I would've received an invite to this exclusive shin dig but still. For example, I read today that MOMA is showing a collection of picture postcards that Walker Evans had collected throughout his life (along with some of his photographs). Evans was apparently an avid collector of many things. The article mentions his fondness for signs and hints that he may have even *taken* some after photographing them. I love it.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
stupid gear!
I recently shot a mixed martial arts competition at the Superdome. Shooting sports is not my bag. Out of 300 I think I may have gotten 10 decent pictures. It's nice to have all the action playing out in front of you and to only have to worry about catching that "decisive moment" but that is quite a challenge. No flash allowed, shooting at 1600 iso (my camera is not a low light camera), and stuck in one spot (on your knees at that) makes for getting "the shot" a tough job. Of course not as tough of a job as the fighters have. I wanted to get into the locker room and shoot portraits of the fighters after their fights but that was pushing it. Everyone wanted "action" shots.
It's times like these when I truly realize the limitations of my camera and lenses. I am by no means set up to shoot sports. No f2.8 zoom lenses here, and no super fast focusing, super frame shooting camera either. My set up is for portraits and that's what I like to do the most.
I shot a portrait of my friend Whitney who is self publishing an art photography book. I also took him around a little bit and showed him how I approach lighting. You can see the portrait of him that will go into the book in the "portrait" section of my website. Here's an outtake of us walking around. I wasn't so concerned at the time with composition. I was really just showing him how I balance light between strobe and ambient. But turns out I kinda like the pic anyway.
Finally, I got my RZ67 working again so I'll be shooting film again!!!! Hells Yeah! Big, medium format film! I'll Also be shooting all sorts of polaroids because I am... you know, the hipster photographer (see previous post). I only put 5 rolls through the camera before it pooped out on me. Turns out the screws in the, um, cocking lever were loose which kept the shutter from being properly... cocked. Now if I can only find someone who can fix my large format lens!!! It, um, cocks just fine but there's an issue with the shutter prematurely closing... ha ha.
ll
Thursday, January 15, 2009
no frills
I was recently asked by a journalist to give some input into the New Orleans night life for Modern Luxury Magazine. They wanted to know spots where "young locals involved in the art scene" would like to go. Then the email said since the magazines demographics were 20-30 luxury jetsetter that I shouldn't mention any hole in the walls... after all, where do they think New Orleans artists types hang out? After reading this I did not want to take part but I had already agreed with the writer and she was on a deadline. So, I followed through. Not with my favorite places, but of places I thought the "jetsetters" would feel cool hanging out.
I thought it would be good publicity to take part in such silly little articles. I thought they'd publish my website along with my name and maybe I'd see a spike in my web hits. Well, all I got was a label...
"Hipster photographer Leonard Lopp"
I don't quite know how to take that. Does that imply that I only photograph hipsters? That I hide out in the local hole in the wall, camera in tow, waiting for a twenty something in tight pants to order a PBR? Or, worse yet, am I the Hipster? Toting my polaroid camera from one Mod dance party to the next?
THe writer apologized to me. Apparently the editor took some liberty with the article. I thought for a minute about writing a letter to the editor but I came down with a vomiting spell that lasted 24 hours (which I think was from a vegie burger and not the hipster label).
So here's one from the hipster archive:
Friday, January 2, 2009
rambling
Happy Holidays! Happy New Year and all that! It's been a while since I've posted. Sometimes it feels futile to bother posting but I do know there are a few out there who read this. I spent the holidays in Detroit, and yes, things are as bad as you hear. My father has basically been laid off for a full year. He turned 57 while I was home. I feel for him. To have worked so hard your entire life and be this close to retirement and see everything just crumble must be a little disheartening. He'll be ok though, my pops is a trooper. While I was home I wanted to do some quality portraits of my family. I guess I kinda chickened out. I didn't want to bother trying to get all my equipment past security and the airport and I didn't really have a good idea of how I wanted to shoot everyone. So I thought I'd save it for the summertime when the weather is nice. That way I could get em' all outside and shoot in the style I've been shooting.
Afer the jump... a new shoot with Adem (+ Ginny), nolarhythm.com, and what 2009 holds.
I arrived back in New Orleans on December 29th. It's always good to get back into New Orleans. I miss this place even after a couple of days. I'm glad the holidays are done with. It's time to settle down and get back to work. There has been quite a bit of goings on with myself and my work.
I may have mentioned a site called Nolarhythm.com before in the blog. It's still in Beta form so there's not much happening at the site itself. Behind the scenes... things are stirring. I keep a myspace account for it with a blog to keep people posted so if you want some details PLEASE check it out. December involved two meetings with a local radio station hashing out some of the details. They are excited about the idea and want to help. Now it's just a matter of convincing all the "higher ups" that this is a viable thing.
Early December I quit assisting a local photographer whom I had spent the previous 4 months with. It was quite a learning experience, for mostly all the wrong reasons. The idea of assisting is to learn. To learn photography and to learn the business side of photography. I was learning neither. It feels good to walk away from it, but the extra money was really nice. A little advice though to others who are starting to assist. Don't waste your time with photographers that you will not learn from (unless the pay is OUTRAGEOUS). You do not want to learn from someone who is unprofessional and you do not want to be associated with someone like that either. You want to learn the profession in the proper manner. So, if a situation is wrong just walk away from it and find someone else. Or focus on your work, you'll be much happier.
So, I've been thinking about producing my first "mailer" to send out to magazines. After reading about how to market yourself on sites like APhotoEditor and reading PDN I think I am starting to figure out what I want. Now, I am not out to land major gigs. I'm keeping it local for now, targeting the few local magazines we have in New Orleans. I hope to have the mailer finished by the end of Jan. and to mail them out early Fed. I have a few shoots this month that I think will add to my portfolio very nicely.
As for the rest of 2009 I have high hopes. There is still a desire for a grand adventure across america. It may happen but for now I must maintain my focus on nolarhythm, my portfolio and my photography projects involving New Orleans.
Finally I'll leave you with a couple of shots from a recent shoot with my friend Adem. It was spur of the moment but all sorts of fun. His roommate Ginny came home halfway through the shoot so we made her take part against her will. Everyone wants it in my portfolio but I think I probably have enough oddball stuff in there already. Enjoy.
ll
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