Back to Bosnia

I have a lot of fond memories of Bosnia. Love the people, love the country, loved every trip (except the one when I was evacuated to Geneva for a medical emergency).
So I was really stoked when I found out that World Vision Canada was sending me and David duChemin to Bosnia to shoot new images for their annual gift catalog.
My last visit, NATO peacekeeping troops were maintaining a fragile peace. This trip I hope to see Sarajevo restored to it’s former beauty – as well as look up a few friends there.
And, of course, I know that David and I will find some amazing World Vision projects to photograph.
Stay tuned – this should be fun.

A Sorely Needed Vacation

It’s no secret – I love California. A vacation in Sunny Cal? Even better. The fog everyday presented some interesting challenges but I loved finding ways to make it work to my advantage. The Central Coast wine country was visually tasty (and delicious).
My camera rarely left my hands but it wasn’t work.
And that’s one of the secrets I think I’ve found to make my craft more enjoyable and personally fulfilling. Taking the time to learn without the pressure of client expectations, photographing something in a completely different style and intent than I would for “work” is a great way to re-energize.

I hope you’ll enjoy a few selects from last week.

G

Finally…Some Work So I Can Rest!

It’s been a hectic, busy, summer. And the weird thing is – the only projects I’ve been working on are my own – getting prepped for a show of my work for one, trying to get the studio organized for another.
Fortunately, most of my clients have decided to take the summer off, too – leaving me to my own devices.
This summer, those devices happened to be: move across country, move daughter and son-in-law across country, remodel son and daughter-in-law’s kitchen across country, move mother from New England to the South. No wonder I’m glad to be heading to Iraq for a really great client (can’t reveal now but will in a later post).
I think the most frustrating point of all these exercises has been the lack of control I could exert over each situation. After all, that’s what I do in real life as a producer – control (or appear to control) stuff and people. All I could do was react in the most reasonable, effective, and logical ways available to me. Which, truth be told, is exactly what I encounter on virtually every production I produce.
The point of all this stuff has served to remind me how the circumstances I encounter in the field will happen, no matter how much I try to plan ahead, with or without any intervention from me. And there can be only two outcomes – failure or success. Failure happens when I don’t take advantage of opportunities to manage these circumstances in a way that will lead me to a positive outcome. Success only happens when I am prepared for the unexpected, unwanted, and unmanageable. Some might call that experience. And I’m seeing more and more how that experience translates across a whole host of those events that are elements of our everyday lives and our careers. Call it cross-training.
SO the question today is: how are you using your everyday experiences to cross-train for tomorrow?

My Fave Image

This image is rendered as a beautiful 16×20 B/W frame in my living room. Since the move from CA to NC was looming, I decided to treat the cross-country drive as I would an assignment from a client. Mt. Whitney is a special place for me because it was named for one of my ancestors. The Whitneys originally hail from New Brunswick, Canada and, if my genealogy is straight, Josiah Dwight Whitney is one of my direct-line relatives. Kinda cool.
While the color image was inspiring, I think the B/W render is pretty freaking awesome.
The point of all this is this: yes, we’re all working at making a living, or visa versa. But the creative spirit in us needs to connect with that muse – if only for a short time.
So, what inspires you? Have you spent the time and effort to pursue it lately? Doesn’t need to be a cross-country trip. I’ll bet there’s plenty of inspiration close at hand.
So, while I’m prepping to go to the Middle East for an assignment, my mind is still very focused on my locale – and what I’ll find here for inspiration when I return.

On to Iraq…

Well, it’s been a long time coming but Iraq is on the near horizon for me. I’ll be traveling with a small NGO that is working in a number of middle eastern countries. I hear October in Iraq has some very lovely weather. They’re expecting a cold front with temps below 100 degrees F. Should be fun.

I’ll be producing and shooting a documentary, as well as shooting stills for the client. Of course, my ThinkTank Photo gear, (BTW – mention code AP-418 and receive a free gift from ThinkTank Photo for every order of $50 or more, Photoflex gear, and Kiboko bag will be at my side, making life easier and allowing for more creative freedom.

Stay tuned for more posts on this exciting trip.

I See The Light…

WHO would have thought that moving yourself across the country would be such a challenge?

Now, I consider myself pretty experienced in the relocation dept. After all, I grew up moving – thanks to my career Air Force dad. Not a complaint, mind you, I enjoyed seeing new places and new cultures. It’s just a fact. I’ve moved my own family across the U.S. a few times as well – but always with the help of my new employer. Moving yourself from one coast to another is in an entirely different league. I can definitely draw some parallels between moving and producing a photo or video shoot. The details that you don’t or can’t foresee are the ones that take the most energy to work out.

Finally – we’re beginning to see the light of day from beneath the tower of moving cartons and boxes. The office is set up (OK-at least it’s functional) and I’m starting to get back into the swing of things. Sort of.

At least now I have the time to reflect on the past couple of months, organize some photos, and begin working on a few product reviews and perhaps a tutorial or two.

I was pleased to see my article on David duChemin finally in print in the June issue of Rangefinder Magazine, as well as a couple articles in Response.

I have several images from the CA to NC Road Trip (see garysroadtrip.wordpress.com for more info on that) in various stages of printing and framing – with an interest from the local arts council, so things are moving along.

Stay tuned – I have some notes about Photoflex gear used in a recent shoot for Save The Children to share.

PhotoFlex Products at Work

I remember the days when traveling to another county for a video production required cases and cases of gear (and lots of excess baggage fees). With the advent of smaller and better HD equipment, that’s no longer necessary. Ditto for still photography.

It would be wonderful to be able to take a full selection of mono lights, stands, and accessories with me on my overseas shoots. But let’s face it – it’s just not feasible – especially in today’s restrictive travel environment. Sure, if I were a high-end commercial photographer charging $KKK a day plus expenses, I could take anything I wanted. But, as a humanitarian photographer and producer, budgets are tight and the majority of my overseas shoots are in very rural areas – often out in the African “bush” as it were. Quite simply, my best option for lighting is a good selection of light modifiers. Since I prefer shooting with natural light anyway, this is not a problem. Even then, you can still get bogged down with gear – unless you choose multi-function modifiers such as the 5-in1 reflectors made by PhotoFlex. I have both the 32”,and 42” Multidiscs, and also the 39” x 72” LitePanel kit.

Now, I know there are a number of companies who offer 5-in-1 reflector discs out there, but there are two features in particular that the PhotoFlex products have that make them superior products in my opinion. First, and most importantly, is the quality. I’ve owned several light discs made by other manufacturers and honestly, they work just fine. But I’ve also noticed that the zippers begin to snag after a few uses, stitching starts to unravel, etc. The quality of the fabric and sewing just isn’t the best. They work, but they won’t last – requiring replacement, canceling out any savings.

In comparison, the quality of the PhotoFlex MultiDisc is apparent before you even remove it from its case. Obviously better fabric and a more heavy-duty zipper that has yet to give me any problems. Inside the carrying case – more of the same – quality zippers, fabric and stitching I know will last a good while and put up with all the abuse I’ll give it. The second feature that makes the PhotoFlex MultiDisc invaluable to me is the gold/silver reflector. With other products that offer only the slid gold or silver, I find the reflected light either too warm or too cold. The gold/silver provides a really attractive balance of the two and produces a beautiful warm tone of light that I love to use as a key light. Yeah, with this product you do give up the black that most of the other guys’ products have but frankly, I can only think of one instance where I’ve ever used it so it’s not really missed.

The LitePanel kit is the MultiDisc on steroids. It has all the features of the MultiDisc in a larger 39” by 72”version that’s easy to set up and breaks down into its own 39”, heavy-duty carry bag. The cool thing about the kit is not only it’s size, but the accompanying stand and attachment make it a one man setup. I don’t need a grip to hold this for me – I just set it up, find the right angle, and go on about my business behind the camera.

I shoot mostly people and am crazy about my lighting. Getting the right key, fill and eye catchlight are critical to making good portraits. I’ve shot on cloudy days, in early morning and late day light – even in harsh midday sun. On my most recent trip to Ethiopia, with tightly scheduled days and a very detailed and extensive shot list, it wouldn’t have been possible to get the results I can did without these very versatile and functional products, I can’t imagine traveling without them.

Visit www.photoflex.com for more info, tutorials, and lots of valuable info that will help make you a better photographer, whether you’re a pro or hobbyist.

Are We There Yet?

Seems like all I’ve been doing lately is travel. Travel long distance, work hard for several days, travel long distance back, repack, repeat. The good news is that clients are liking my work – the bad news is not enough time to devote to the blog. I have several in the works – from a PhotoFlex product review/tutorial, to a little more insight on successfully dealing with dynamic circumstances in an uncooperative environment (and still come up smelling like the proverbial rose).
Big time props to ThinkTank Photo for the new gear – what an amazing difference over my previous “franken-rig”. More later.

G

Tank You For Not Smoking!

“I think getting there today is not possible,” our host, Addis, was telling us as we stepped out of our Land Cruiser to survey the carnage on the road ahead. Lingering and heavy rains during what was supposed to be the beginning of the dry season had already turned what should have been a 5 ½ hour drive into more than a 10 hour ordeal. Many sections of the unpaved roads had simply disappeared under the torrents of water washing down from the nearby mountains and we were faced with a choice: backtrack a couple of hours to the last town to find a guest house for the night, or risk crossing the deepening river ahead. We had already passed several vehicles trapped in the muddy road as well as a truck that had overturned in the treacherous mud. Our driver, Chernet, had skillfully maneuvered us through obstacle after obstacle but this one concerned him. Finally, we decided to risk it. Chernet put the Land Cruiser into 4-wheel drive low, and started across. A few tense minutes later and we were back on the road, winding our way through the savanna of Southern Ethiopia. After 10 exhausting and bone-jarring hours, we finally arrived at the Save The Children office in Matagafarsa, located in the Arero District.

It was good thing we pressed on because overnight rains would have delayed us another day or two.

I had been assigned to photograph STC’s work in this area and I was already concerned that I wouldn’t have enough time to complete the assignment. Normally something of this scope could take up to ten days – I had half that. Experience certainly helps but being prepared and knowing which direction to roll with the punches becomes invaluable when faced with situations like this. (more about how to be prepared in detail in a future post)

Jordan Hay from Toronto had been sent by the STC’s marketing agency, Direct Point, to assist with setups and logistics. Easy going and affable, I liked him immediately and he proved invaluable in helping me with everything from lugging gear to crowd control. It didn’t hurt either that the Ethiopian people here are very open and friendly. Five days incredibly long days later, we would be back on the road to Arbaminch to catch our charter flight the next day – satisfied with an incredibly successful week.

Not to say our week was easy or some sort of exotic vacation, though. I was exactly three weeks out of knee surgery and was a little dismayed to find out our only toilet was an outhouse with a squat pad. Getting from place to place required lots of walking up and down the hills and paths. Our little guesthouse was spartanly furnished and the “shower” was a bucket of cold water with a cup. Breakfast was a cup of local kava, or coffee, and a Cliff Bar and our other meals were typical Ethiopian peasant food – often incredibly spicy, always smothered in oil. No fridge so no cold drinks of any kind. (Although it’s amazing how good a Coke tastes after a few days of nothing but warm water to drink).

Part of our creative brief was to get shots of children with their livestock. There was certainly no shortage of either – but there was also no shortage of flies. Trying to get a shot of a face that wasn’t covered in flies was a challenge. The nearer we were to town, the larger the crowds we drew, with no comprehension of my need for space around each subject. After all – we were the rare white guys in this very remote region. I’m sure my camera gear and ridiculous antics – designed to evoke smiles and laughter – will be the talk of the town for some time.

Our drive back to Arbaminch was much easier on the return (relatively speaking). Roads had dried out and road graders had smoothed out the worst of the rough spots. We found an amazing place to stay – the Paradise Lodge, perched on the cliff overlooking the jungle with the twin lakes in the background. It wasn’t the Hilton, but compared to accommodations the previous week, it might well have been. There were even “No Smoking” areas. My favorite sign was the one that read “Tank You For Not Smoking”.

So – it was an exhausting, but very successful week. Save The Children is doing some great work in community development in this part of Ethiopia and it was gratifying to be able to document much of it. I do want to thank those companies that have shown their support of my humanitarian work and note that the gear and support provided by sponsors like Gura Gear, ThinkTank Photo, Photoflex, and LensBaby definitely contributed to it’s success. These companies deserve recognition and I’ll be reviewing some of the gear used on this trip in later posts – but for now, please take the time to visit their websites – and maybe send them a “thank you” note for their support of my work. Buying some of their products would be a nice gesture, too.

Return From Ethiopia

After 11 very long days in Ethiopia, finally ready to start the long trek home. Overnight flight to Frankfurt, 8 hr. layover, 14 hr. flight to San Francisco, then an hour to Fresno. More than 26 hours travel to get back. Stay tuned – I’ll be posting details and some photos from the trip.