Photography

Show Your Work

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This is a thought coming from myself, here in the minority: if you are a photographer sharing your images on Instagram or Facebook, stop.

Too often have I wanted to see someone’s work only to be redirected to IG. I can’t see your work. I don’t have an account. If I did have an account, I still wouldn’t be able to see your work because of algorithms and adverts.

My advice is to stop sharecropping on their land and start developing on your own land.

Build your own website, online portfolio and gallery. Share your work and your words with people who actually care.

Digital Photo Zines

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Recently I expressed an interest in creating photo magazines with images and text. I really do believe that it is one aspect of the future of digital photography I don’t want to miss out on.

So I downloaded InDesign from Adobe as a trial and am overwhelmed by the learning curve. I had hoped that since I was familiar with Adobe’s photo software it would help, but not so much actually.

Screenshot from InDesign

I still want to take a look at Affinity’s Publisher but there is no trial and they will have a Black Friday sale next week so I am holding off on that for now. I’m hoping the learning curve would be easier and more intuitive as I can’t wait to start publishing these things and share my images in a more modern way.

Screenshot from Publisher webpage

Update: I just discovered an option to download a trial version of Publisher. Can’t wait to explore and play.

Crypto Photo Denbow

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Do you own a Photo Denbow original?

Digital negative courtesy of Photo Denbow and not minted yet.

In the not-too-distant future we’ll see more cryptocurrency usage as well as the purchases of NFTs. What does that mean for photography and photographers? Getting paid. There is a massive market for digital artwork now, and getting paid in cryptocurrency is driving this. It seems many crypto-traders have more than they know what to do with and are investing in NFTs or digital art.

Once an artist uploads, or mints, their work it is up for auction to the highest bidder. The current exchange rate for today, 11/9, is $4,700 to 1 Etherium coin (ETH.) The highest bidder is now the proud owner of digital art that no one else owns or has access to.

How is this a market? Who is buying all these original works? Would there be an interest if I minted my first NFT? How does it work? I don’t have the answers, but I will have fun learning.

The Future Of Photography

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Where is photography going? I don’t think the future will be camera bodies or lenses. How many megapixels do we need, honestly? I think we’ll see innovative photography displayed in more creative ways through software.

Forget social media, it’s dead. No, the future of photography will be publicized and displayed to enthusiasts and curators alike.

I’m looking at a few ideas for myself and to share with others. I want to create digital zines in PDF and send out to anyone and everyone who is interested. E-books and zines are innovative. Compare these to the analog zines that can be printed and distributed. Digital can go further and last longer. Now, I’m comparing two software providers for this, like Adobe InDesign or Affinity Publisher. Adobe is a pricey, monthly subscription, whereas Affinity is a one-time purchase. I’m leaning towards Affinity Publisher.

Another concept I’m looking at is displaying and/or buying Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) More on this concept later as it will probably take on a post on its own.

Robbers Cave

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Nothing like a glorious hike in the Fall. This was the first day we reset our clocks to standard time so we had to hit the trail at the right time. Then, to catch the early sunset (5PM), we drove through the Talimena scenic byway near the Arkansas border. Of course I had to bring a camera along.

I love photo walks. I love photo hiking. When I am hiking and see this wide open space of nature, it helps me thing in a different, more freeing and expansive way. Like my mind is open to possibilities and expansion.

Must find more opportunities to do this in the fall and winter to keep my brain active.

iPad Pro 2021

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The thrill of seeing your images on an iPad, is a beautiful experience. This 5th generation Pro model, with the new Apple M1 chip is amazing. The speed, the screen, the 5G connectivity all combined to help me process and publish my images faster.

Adobe Lightroom on the iPad Pro

The mobile photo studio just got an upgrade today and I am loving the process. The experience of viewing, selecting and processing your photos on this thing is much more enjoyable than on my MacBook Pro (M1.)

Photo Denbow

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Yeah, I gave the photo website a makeover again. This time I turned it into more of a photo blog instead of a portfolio. Chances are I will convert it back based on whatever whim I feel at the moment. But for now, you can check it out at PhotoDenbow.com

Phonetography

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Shot on iPhone 13 Pro Max and post-processed in Lightroom CC

My approach to iPhone photography (phonetography) is unabashedly simple, minimal, and practical. Acquiring the best equipment, with little to carry, process everywhere I go, and publish on the go for me is best.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPad Pro, Smartfolio keyboard for iPad, Apple #2 Pencil

Yes, there are four items here, but the keyboard and pencil magnetically attach to the iPad, effectively making it only two pieces of gear I need to carry and one of them go in my pocket. This is the ideal setup for my mobile studio and photo lab to create the best phonetography images I want.

iPad Pro For Photography

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Digital Contact Sheet
Analog Film Contact Sheet

Ever notice how the Photos app resembles a film negative contact sheet? I am amazed with the viewing experience from the iPad/iPhone/Mac and all the information that is built into it. My workflow is simple: Take images with the iPhone, let them sync to the cloud and they are visible on any device you want to view or edit. I can also shoot images on my digital camera, load the SD card into the reader, insert reader into my device and transfer there for post-processing.

Why do I prefer the iPad to do this with? First, the experience of viewing, choosing, and editing your photos on an iPad is much more fun and interactive than just seeing them on your laptop. I can take my digital photo lab with me everywhere. And seeing my photos on a brilliant screen is more intimate for me. I am able to hold my digital images in my hand and interact with them, flag, post-process, and even sketch the composition.

Sketching composition lines with Apple Pencil on iPad
EXIF data. So much more than analog film information.