brian yarvin

Karim, I agree with you. I have a whole shelf devoted to 1990's stock photo catalogs. They're a sort of pinnacle of commercial photography or at least what commercial photography can be.

I just checked and Model Mayhem lists over 3,400 models in Vancouver. At least a few should be available for the O.P.

Without an existing portfolio, it's unlikely that "real" model agencies will want to work with you. May I suggest that you start with a website like Model Mayhem? It will list events for beginners. With a few of those done, try hiring local talent from their database. Good luck! Starting a new photography adventure always is exciting!

Sorry John, I was unable to find a whole episode online. It doesn't matter though, I love watching old Antiques Roadshow episodes anyway.

You're welcome! I now know what my evening entertainment will be. And why would the copy have "opposite orientations?" Because the original did? The copy may have been enlarged, or it may have been a contact copy of the original large format transparency - something commonly done back then. Thinking back to the studio culture of the time and trying to recall the techniques we used is fun in itself.

First of all, what episode? Most of the old ones are on Youtube and can be searched by number. Now ... what I suspect is that there was an 8x10 piece of film that was used half a sheet at a time using a special "half plate" camera and holder that I'd heard of but never seen. (during my own time in NYC photo studios in the seventies and eighties). But that's just guesswork and faded memories. It was pretty normal to shoot people in the studio with large format in those days and there were many devices around to help things along. Bert's website (www.bertstern.com of course) says nothing about technique although there is at least one documentary film of him at work, but of course, this could have been an enlarged copy transparency too. I'd love to see that episode!

Raymond, here in Pennsylvania, those events are so popular that there are whole groups devoted to them.

I wish I had said this!

Good grief! We haven't even touched on all the variables yet! When you compare digital to film, final output counts. Magazine? Gift book? Fine art print? Ink jet? Silver? "Sharpness" is meaningless in this context. An extraordinary hand-coated platinum print might not be as sharp a phone photo, and it's a huge and tough task to make a beautiful art print from a phone. I will say this though; if all you care about is "sharpness" in its measurable forms, you are wasting your time with film. Digital is where the action is when it comes to tech specs. It's just that tech specs are rarely a reason to choose a workflow.

Wilhelm, I once heard her answer this question at a talk in Manhattan back in the eighties. She was a commercial photographer with a bunch of magazine clients - a source of revenue that was common in those days. Indeed, she said that the style of her street photography was something that clients asked for when they gave her assignments. Indeed, her work for fashion magazines in the late forties and fifties so strongly resembles her personal work that they're often shown side-by-side at exhibitions.

JD, this can work every now and then, but the card companies track this and lower your credit rating for doing this frequently. It's a jungle out there!

Phil, I may know how to do basic production, but you are at a level of deep thought that I don't dare touch.

I'm sorry Phil, I thought that "fashion clothes" were props.

Phil, as opposed to what? You want to look like a professional who can rustle up the right props and wardrobe for great shoots. Production shoots often borrow things and knowing where to find what you need is in itself a sign of professionalism.

I somewhat disagree with Phil. In my experience, if you ask too many questions, you look like an amateur. When I was getting props, I would keep the stuff for as short a time as possible, pay for return shipping without question if none was provided, and never, ever ask if I could keep something. And like most people on these boards (including myself!), you are absolutely overthinking it.