It was a bit muddy and cold this day, but Victoria and her mother were definitely sports about it.  It was the last shot of the day, and I’m sure they were ready to get back into their cars!  But it sure is purty!

Wiz Khalifa, 2006.

Shot as part of a fashion shoot in Pittsburgh.  Everyone knew he would make it big.  It was just a matter of when.  A nice guy with a great sense of humor.

Jump shots are always fun.  Not just because of the challenge of getting just the right facial expression mixed with body posture, lighting, and the look of the clothing, but also because it’s rare that the model can keep a straight face for long.  One day I should make a blog full of outtakes of models losing it.

One of the great things about being a location photographer (and I mean great in a sarcastic way) is lugging equipment around.  But my lighting has become so integral to my style that I feel naked without it.  Sometimes I end up not using my lights and going for a softer look.  This was not one of those times.  Interesting tidbit:  It was freaking cold!

Get out there and take some risks.  What’s the worst that can happen??  Don’t answer that.

I found an article over at Petapixel detailing a product photographer who had two custom built 10 megapixel sensors built to fit his two large format film cameras.  There are two interesting things about this story to me.  One, that he uses the sensor to replace polaroid film.  He apparently used to spend upwards of $50,000 per year using polaroid to proof his images, then take the final photos using a traditional 8×10 film camera.  He now uses the sensor as his proofing system to be sure that he’s got the shot before using the 8×10 film to finalize the image.  Ok.  I can buy that.  The system pays for itself in 10 years, and that’s just how he works.  Fine.  Who am I to question a working pro’s methods?

The second thing about the article that struck me was something that the writer of an article over at Engadget said in reference to the sensor: “What’s really loco, though, is that the sensor is only 10MP, which isn’t remotely sufficient for printable art.”  Huh?

This is the problem with the hunt for the latest and greatest.  When Canon released its top of the line Canon 1Ds back in 2003, tech hounds’ jaws dropped.  The images coming off of that “lowly” 11.4 MP sensor were cleaner, crisper, and more usable than anything out there short of a drum scanned medium format negative.  Photographers were drooling to get one.  Billboards, magazine spreads, posters, you name it, were all being produced effortlessly on that sensor.  These days, Nikon has a 24+ megapixel DSLR camera.  Is the image quality coming out of it  better?  Of course!  The images coming out of Nikon’s D3x are amazing.  But that doesn’t do anything to diminish the fact that Canon’s 8 year old 1Ds is still a perfectly capable camera.

My point is only this:  Knock it off, people!  When people look at an image on the cover of a magazine, 95% of them aren’t going to care what kind of camera took it.  They’re going to grabbed by the image or they’re not.  Megapixels have very little to do with the success of an image.  I’ve shot magazine covers with a 6.3 MP camera.

So when you photographers out there are out looking for your next camera, remember that a camera doesn’t create the image.  You do.

What do you think, photographers?

When I head back to the windy city next week,ill be shooting her again! I’m really curious as to what the shoot will be like, how I have progressed as a photographer, and it’ll be nice to catch up with an old friend! We are scheduled to shoot in 9 days. Let’s see what we come up with. Here is an old picture from ne of our first shoots.

As I’ve been ramping up my marketing campaign (finally) it was really great to see someone put things into perspective.   I certainly don’t have everything figured out.  I’m learning every day and (hopefully) becoming a better photographer, but it’s good to be reminded of what’s truly important:  That I’m growing as a person, pushing towards my dreams, helping to raise my beautiful daughter, and continuing to live my life in the best way I can.  The rest is just icing on a pretty good cake.

Any aspiring artists frustrated with finding their voice (or not finding it) would do well to watch this video.  We all have a long way to go.  Let’s enjoy the ride and remember what’s really important!