michael_gray7

<p>Nice tweak on the finals there boys...that's what a little image handeling can do to dave the day. On the focusing end...I can tell the original was focused on the girls' chair in the foreground...just a matter of keeping your AF focusing points accurate during the framing...a continual challenge.</p>

<p>Michael..Forgive me...I should have been more clear....I meant photos on your facebook... not any old website.</p>

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<p>My advice is to end your relationship with this nut job reguardless of wether you keep the images up or not. Nothing is worse than an unpredictable model with an overblown sense of self-importance.</p>

<p>If you can get $ 150.00 an hour for a bunch of candids...take it. But anyone paying that is an idiot. The rates are at best half that where I am. Maybe it's a geographical thing. I hear you get a lot more for your money in Texas.</p>

<p>Let me pitch out some generalities that might help. Remember, hands are a "subject"...not a theme. What you need is a theme to guide your subject (images) through an evolution that leads to a complete story. One of my college professors always pushed the idea of "transformation" as a way to unify a series of images.<br>

For example...you could pick the teme of a single person's complete life told with the story of their hands. It begins with baby hands perhaps with a fist and thumb sticking out representing the act of suckeling their thumb. A middle photo might be a greasy hand holding a wrench representing their career, and an ending photo with an older pair of hands with a gray color and crosses as though in the casket.<br>

Think about telling a story of something...not just a group of pictures.</p>

<p>When it comes to original authorship or copyright...the rule is... if it's not in writing, it means nothing. If the art has gone to public domain like facebook...it means nothing. If you post a picture on your public website and it isn't clearly marked as a copyrighted and protected piece...I can take that image and do whatever i want with it. Sad but true brother. Public domain is here to stay.</p>

<p>A lense boxe is only as useful as the lense is. 10 years old might as well be a thousand. dump em'</p>

<p>General rule...the client should NEVER know your costs...only the value and convenience you can offer them.</p>

<p>I see this issue all the time. The fact of the matter is that Models (especially those that actually do it for a living) need high quality digital images for their files and portfolio WITHOUT a ridiculous water mark plastered over the whole image. The wise man's path is to create a SMALL copyright signature notice in the lower corner of the image in conjunction with the model contract requiring the image to be displayed for the purposes of promotion only and WITH the copyright signature intact. End of story.</p>

<p>You should actually have several different portfolios...both print and digital. An architectural firm couldn't care less about your wildlife photos...etc...Tailor your portfolios towards the clients or employers you intend to speak with...even go out and shoot stuff specifically to plug holes in the portfolios.<br>

P.S. (can I use "crap sandwich"...awesome expression.) That brings up another hard fact...always back up your work somewhere digitally. I burn CD's quite regularly of recent work and place them in my safety deposit box at the bank and have a backup hard drive as well.</p>

<p>That's always a tough kind of question. There is no right or wrong...only what works for you. If you make money and like doing it...than do it. If not...then don't. Personally, after having removed chemistry from my life altogether, I would NEVER go back. Too messy...too toxic...and WAY too time consuming. But that's just me.<br>

To me, the darkroom is a relic of the past, for others...it is the sole reason to go on living! Whatever works for you.</p>

<p>If you upload an image to facebook...it is now considered "public domain" based on your privacy settings....anyone can use it as they see fit...choose your uploads carefully.</p>

<p>With all due respect to the previous opinion...you will never fetch that kind of money for a random shot of some guitar player that was not contracted in advance..they will laugh hard at that kind of quote. ( because they can have their own shoot done for less than that)<br>

Your looking at $ 1,000.00 at most. Don't get greedy.<br>

On the matter of rights, if the photo was shot in a public place in plain public view...i.e...not on private property or during a closed concert...you do not need a release...the endorsement company needs a release...they will be the publishing entity...therefore the liable entity...again this depends on where it was shot...public or private property. This is why the papparazzi don't need releases...public view. Only the Magazine is liable...NOT the photographer....especially if it is a public figure. That is clear case law. Again...this depends on where it was shot. If you shot him at a private party where there was an expectation of privacy...you might run into legal issues on that one. DO NOT sell that picture if so without a release. The endorsement company should be taking care of all that if they are legit... read it carefully...verify the guitarists signature on the contract.</p>

<p>Another tactic, one I used myself in photojournalism is called "leaning on the drive" combined with panning...which basically means setting your fps to maximum and holding the button for many quick consecutive shots while smoothly panning the camera with the direction of the child's movements if the child is in motion. Typically you'll get 1 in 5 or 1 in 8 that is sharp enough to use as well as possibly getting that nice panning effect where the background is streaked but the subject is clear. Combine it with a rear-curtain sync bounce fill flash and you'll really start to dig the possibilities for adding energy and clarity to the image. Keep the flash dialed down 1/2 stop so you don't blow things out. Also...it's always better to use a wide angle in slow shutter speed applications if possible for handheld photography. The wider angle of view reduces the apparent motion and increases the stability of your hand-held platform.</p>