You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Guest Blog' category.
Dallas is full of good photographers, however, it is not full of good print studios.
More times than should be the case, I have had a friend or fellow photographer ask me where I print my photographs, or if I could recommend a good print studio. Well that is what I am here to do today. For any who are searching, or are currently dissatisfied with impersonal and sub-par printing, I have some advice; go to Artizen.
At 1211 Dragon St in the Design District, they are right across the street from Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery. The owner, who is a good family friend of mine, has been involved with the photography and print industry since the 70’s, and the in house master printmaker, Damon, can print just about anything you can imagine. They have a wide range of archival papers, canvases, substrates, and even UV coated, sticky backed photo paper for outdoor use. Damon is not just a master printer, he is an artist, and will work with you to create something unique, professional, and innovative.
I print all of my photographs there, and had an amazing experience during the printing of my solo show back in October at the Cube Creative. Damon knows things about image making and post production that most of us don’t, and he makes photographs look better than you ever thought was possible. Hal Samples and Dylan Hollingsworth print most of their work there, and even a good portion of La Reunion’s materials have been printed there.
In my opinion, Artizen’s quality of equipment, materials, and technical expertise is un-matched in the city of Dallas, and even pushes the envelope of printing innovation across the country, even internationally. I suggest you give it a try.
Drop by, or send Damon an email: ddaniels@artizenfinearts.com, and tell him you want the Photopolus special! 
Happy Printing!
Artizen Studios
1211 Dragon Street
Dallas, TX 75207-4005
(214) 979-2160
Dear Fellow Photo Snipers, I just wanted to share some exciting news…
A photo story that I wrote about Lee Harvey’s was just published online for Pictory Magazine’s theme, A Neighborhood Treasure. It is story #6, and both the patron’s of Lee Harvey’s or I couldn’t be happier.
Enjoy: http://www.pictorymag.com/showcases/neighborhood-treasure/
When I saw this theme, I knew immediately that I wanted to shine a small documentary light on my favorite bar down the street, and so I waited for the right time to get a good shot. On the night of the record snow a few weeks ago, I walked down the street hoping to walk into an empty bar, in an effort to get a unique picture that accurately represents the bar we all know and love. I explained to Kevin (the bartender in the photo) that I was writing this story, and asked if I could take his picture once I was all set up. He was extremely helpful, and even excited to be a part of my project.
I set up a small wireless flash unit with a diffuser and some colored gels on top of the fireplace in front of the bar, and carefully selected the best angle. When I was all ready, I told him to pour me a four fingers of Maker’s, and then snapped this frame. I was very pleased with the results, and apparently so was Pictory Magazine.
I talked to the owner of Lee Harvey’s last night, and though he really liked the story, he said, “couldn’t you take out the part about the toilet overflowing in the bathroom?” As much as I would like to accommodate his request, the toilet in the men’s bathroom is pretty frisky, and makes the place all the more charming to me.
I hope that you like the story, and if you haven’t been to Lee Harvey’s before, then you should go, and ask to see the cat testicles.
P.S. If you are interested, the original, un-edited version of the story is on my site here.
Hello Photopolus fans, Tyler Sharp here. Some of you may know me, most of you don’t, but I will be attempting to contribute to this wonderful website on a regular basis, starting now.
In a quest to establish myself as an accredited photojournalist, I have been scouring various websites, blogs, and publications in search of the best work, the most dramatic methods, and the most poignant photo essays. Consider it surveying the competition.
Without a doubt, one of the most prestigious of arenas for photojournalists and emerging photographers is burn magazine, an online publication curated by David Alan Harvey. For one, if you don’t know Mr. Harvey’s work, you should. He is a full member of the Magnum Photo collective, has shot over 40 articles for National Geographic, and has won countless awards and honors over the years. He conducts and teaches photo workshops all over the world, runs numerous blogs, founded, and now curates this photographic realm of genius.
The site is open to submissions, both single images and photographic essays, but they only accept and publish the highest caliber of material. I have submitted a number of times to no avail, but see it as a very clear and admirable goal to pursue. They also offer a grant from their Emerging Photographer’s Fund, which is $15,000 this year, to breathe life into a photographer’s personal project of either journalistic or artistic imperatives. The deadline for proposals is April 15th, 2010, and the winner will be announced in June of 2010.
I highly recommend viewing some of the published work on the site, as it is some of the best around. Enjoy.
As a freelance photographer I have the great luxury of accepting whatever jobs I want. Reasons why I might not want the job are numerous. Maybe the budget isn’t big enough. Maybe I’m already booked. Maybe I don’t want to travel that far. Maybe I don’t have a babysitter. Or maybe I have a personal reason.
But usually the truth that I tell my inquirer is, “Unfortunately, I am unable to shoot on that day. Here is a list of other photographers that I recommend. “
This isn’t the case for everyone. Some photographers will tell you exactly why they will not be shooting for you. Receiving a lot of publicity now are the vendors who are not “Gay and Lesbian Friendly.”
Recently, NPR did a story highlighting Vanessa Willock v. Elaine Photography. When Elaine received an email inquiry about shooting a wedding she replied, “We do not photograph same-sex weddings. But thanks for checking out our site! Have a great day!”
Now, I think this is a rather tacky response. But I don’t think it should have cost her $6000. The lesbian couple won the court case on the grounds of discrimination.
Personally, I am Pro Happy. I don’t care who you fall in love with. I care that you love. I care that you’re happy and I am honored when anyone enjoys my talent enough to have me present at any ceremony as eternally important as a wedding ceremony.
But it seems that as we ask for tolerance from the world for our different beliefs, perhaps we should also try practicing it ourselves.
Suing a photographer because they don’t want to shoot your wedding is pompous and trying to pose an answer without a question. I think photographers should be allowed to take whatever jobs they want, regardless of the reason. I think people should be able to marry whoever they fall in love with, regardless of their gender.
And I wait on time to bring ease and clarity and peace for those who are uneasy. You should know though, Gay is not going to go away.
Can you remember those construction zone signs that announced that a flagman was ahead? Well, now they say “flagger” in deference to the flag wavers of the female persuasion who have moved into the profession.
As for me, I think it’s high time that all those signs marking the presence of round openings to underground spaces be changed to simply HOLE. Let’s get rid of sexism in all aspects of life here in the USofA.
Polaroid
Grapevine, Texas 9/26/2009
Guy Reynolds
photopol.us guest blogger
When I was commissioned to do this baby portrait I spent some time talking them out of doing it in the studio. Then I spent some time talking them out of going to the Arboretum or any other gardenish places. All are fine and typical locations to take a family photograph but they can also be so overused that everything starts to look and feel alike. And 20 years from now no one in the photo even remembers where they were.
I like going into the subject’s environment for a portrait. Seeing “their world” lends so much more to the story than any seamless paper and softbox. I feel a real sense of success when I’m able to go into that world and shoot it “as is.” I might manipulate the available light or put in or remove an object from the frame, but by and large it’s their home where their memories are made and where their life is lived. So much more important than any “location.”
Often a client says something along the lines of, “But my house isn’t pretty enough. There are no flowers.”
My response is, “That’s okay, you’re not hiring me to take pictures of flowers.”
When I asked this family to crawl into their bed for a shot they really couldn’t imagine why. They had never heard of “Lifestyle Photography.” I’m not really fond of that vocabulary word once it’s let loose into the mainstream world, but it’s what we have to work with at the moment and certainly my style probably falls a bit into this category.
I like the advice given on this blog by Amy Horlwitz.
www.photopolus.etsy.com
