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Ansel Adams Grandson’s Response to Claim Ansel Adams’ Photos Found at Garage Sale Worth $200 Million

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Is it real or is it Memorex? Ah jeeze most readers won’t remember this famous line, so let’s translate: are these glass slides really Ansel’s or is it the same cow crap that he stepped over on his why to capturing one of his images?

I just talked with Matthew Adams, Ansel’s grandson who runs the Ansel Adams Gallery. He’s up to his ears over over this whole fuss and the short answer is, yep it’s the stuff on the bottom of his shoes from the southern end of a bull.

His long answer is quoted below. But stay tuned folks we’re going to be providing video evidence of the points Matthew talks about… meanwhile check out the real McCoy watch our video with Ansel’s son Michael.

I was provided access in November 2009 to the evidence that the “Norsigian Team” had accumulated. No further evidence has been presented, and my comments are based on the information provided at the time and not updated.

Negative Sleeves –
The negative sleeves are manila envelopes with a stamp to organize handwritten information as:
No_
Name_
Remarks_

Each sleeve is numbered with a 4 digit number, starting with “8”, and a title in the “Name” field. The title is suggested to be in the hand of Virginia Best Adams, Ansel’s wife (married 1928). The dates of the any glass plate negatives pre-date the marriage, meaning that the sleeves would have been new after 1928. The supposition presented is that the negatives were rescued from Ansel’s darkroom fire of 1937, sleeved and marked at that time. Ansel’s negative numbering system usually referenced glass plate negatives as “GP”. “1-GP-##” would mean 8×10 glass plate image number ##. 1937 is certainly after Ansel started using this negative numbering system, and these examples are inconsistent with that schema.

I am not aware if any carbon dating of the negative sleeves has been done. Presumably it would be possible, and might provide scientific evidence of the date of the sleeves and possibly the date of the marking.

Handwriting – The handwriting of the negative number does not match the handwriting of the title. The handwriting of the titles has been identified by Mr. Norsigian’s team as belonging to Virginia Best Adams. The expert, Michael Nattenburg, used samples from 1927, 1929, and 1950. My opinion, without expertise but familiarity only with her handwriting of a later date, is that it does not belong to Virginia. I have viewed the sample handwriting from the 1920s and subject handwriting, and found differences that I would consider significant.

more….

Hot Portrait Photography Tips—Patrick Roddie’s Stunning Burning Man Photos

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

I recently interviewed well-known Burning Man photographer Patrick Roddie on Advancing Your Photography. Roddie is a self-taught photographer and he shares some great tips for portrait photography that he’s learned while shooting his Burning Man photos for the past 13 years.

Patrick doesn’t follow a strict checklist of techniques when it comes to photographing people. Instead, he focuses on connecting with people and capturing the moment. You’ll see examples of how he does this in our show, along with his stunning results.

He told me he first learned photography by taking pictures of “stuff,” and wasn’t sure how to approach and take pictures of people, he was a bit timid in fact. When he started shooting at Burning Man he said his photography took a radical shift and he overcame his fear of capturing intimate and candid photographs. As a point of advice, he said if you are yourself and trust yourself, capturing portraits are much easier than you may think.

Roddie approaches every portrait by maintaining eye contact with his subject as he frames the photo in his mind and raises his camera to quickly take the shot. If you worry too much about lenses or F-Stops, you might miss the moment. But on the other hand he describes how you have to have your equipment always on the ready, like an emergency kit—don’t get caught off guard.

Tune in to AYP and watch the show. Then tell me what you learned and attach a sample of your own candids or get out and capture your own images and send them along!

Underwater Photographer Wesley Skiles Dies at 52

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Photo copyright Luis Lamar.

Famed underwater photographer Wesley Skiles, a pioneering cave-diver, explorer and conservationist, died Wednesday while on assignment for National Geographic. He was 52.

Skiles was involved in a diving accident off the coast of eastern Florida, the details of which are still under investigation. Underwater at the time, he signaled to other divers that he was ascending to get more film for his camera. However he never returned to the surface. Colleagues found him on the ocean floor and rushed him to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Known as a pioneer in underwater photography and film making, Skiles was renowned for his enthusiasm and daring in seeking out remote underwater caverns where no one had ever filmed before. He produced over 100 films for television, and was noted for his passion for conservation education. Skiles’ amazing photo of the blue caves in the Bahamas Islands is on the cover of the current issue of National Geographic.

“Wes was a true explorer in every sense and a wonderful spirit,” said Chris Johns, National Geographic’s editor in chief. “He set a standard for underwater photography, cinematography and exploration that is unsurpassed. It was an honor to work with him, and he will be deeply missed.”

Photo Composition Tips and More from Landscape Photographer Joseph Holmes

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Joseph Holmes, a native of Berkeley and a landscape photographer who's been making fine art prints since the late 1960's, joins us today on Advancing Your Photography to share his photo tips. Joe's goal is to make pictures that change people's outlook on the world, by giving unspoiled nature a powerful voice in our affairs. He discusses how composition is the most important aspect of a photographer's work, especially in landscape and other fine art photography.

So how does one take a life-changing photograph? Holmes says that you need to work hard and explore every photographic technique so as to bring the greatest rendering capability to 'the shot' when you find it. He gives tips for using the histogram for creating well-exposed digital captures. One of his composition tips is one that many beginners forget: all four edges of your composition should appear quite deliberate in their placement! Watch the full interview for these tips and more on taking landscape photos!

A Chance to Win a SanDisk Card! What makes “The Kiss” Such a Strong Photograph?

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Here’s a contest, a chance to win a SanDisk card: I have two questions for you: One, what makes this image so strong for you? It was shot almost 65 years ago, yet it resonates with today’s viewers, who may have had grandparents around at the time it was taken. Really, I’m very curious to know what hits you when you see it? For the back story of this photograph see the end of this post. *

Now two, this takes a bit of work on your end, but not too hard: Who can do a reenactment of it, even have two friends be your models, unless you are lucky enough to find an actual sailor and nurse! Shoot it on any camera (I said any, that includes your iPhone, Polaroid, Holga–whatever you’ve got.) Attach it to a comment below (or you can tweet @marcsilbershow and include the link to this post) and we’ll see who comes up with the best shot and I’ll send SanDisk card to the winner–how’s that?

Contest Details:

Answer why you think this so powerful, or what it conveys to you. You can do that now.

Shoot a reenactment of this photograph (don’t worry about matching their wardrobe) with any camera.

Attach it to a comment below or tweet to @marcsilbershow and include the link to this post

Deadline is 7/31. Winner will be chosen by 8/8. Ok, let’s’ see what you’ve got!

*As Eisenstaedt describes it in his autobiography: “I was walking through the crowds on V-J Day, looking for pictures. I noticed a sailor coming my way. He was grabbing every female he could find and kissing them all — young girls and old ladies alike. Then I noticed the nurse, standing in that enormous crowd. I focused on her, and just as I’d hoped, the sailor came along, grabbed the nurse, and bent down to kiss her.”

Mountaineer Photographs ‘Alarming’ Ice Loss Near Mt. Everest

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

An eroding glacier in the Himalayas. Photo Copyright David Breashears, GlacierWorks.

Looking at the magnificent Rongbuk glacier today, it’s hard to see anything disconcerting. But compared to photographs of the same spot taken 90 years ago, it’s obvious that a massive amount of ice has disappeared. Mountaineer and photographer David Breashears is determined to document this “alarming” loss in a new series of photos from the highest point in the world.

Commissioned by the Asia Society (AS), a team of scientists, conservationists and photographers traveled to Tibet to capture images of the glaciers surrounding Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth.

The team used as their guide photographs captured by British climber George Mallory in 1921, images taken in the exact same spots nearly 90 years ago. What they reveal, says the AS, is “a startling truth: the ice of the Himalayas is disappearing.”

A new exhibit at the Asia Society in Manhattan, dubbed “Rivers of Ice: Vanishing Glaciers of the Greater Himalaya,” shows the melting trend as well as Breashears painstaking retracing of Mallory’s photographic expedition. Breashears, who directed the Imax film “Everest,” says the particularly difficult part of the project was figuring out how to get to the exact locations where Mallory took the photographs.

“I’ve climbed Everest five times, and I would rather do that again than reach some of these photo points,” Breashears told the New York Times. In one instance, he and his team spent 19 days (having to return to base camp three out of four times) trying to get one perfect shot.

“Climbers, they choose good routes,” he said. “A photographer chooses a position; a vantage point.”

Also in the AS exhibit is a collection of work from famed landscape photographer Vittorio Sella, who made a career out of photographing the most famous mountains in the world.

The show runs through August 15.

How to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

John Lennon Memorial, NYC, iPhone

Do you ever hit a “dry spell” in your photography? Honest answer, of course.

What’s your source of inspiration to jump start your creative juices?

We shot a video with Joe Holmes yesterday (you’ll see it next week), we had just unplugged our mics and our crew was putting away the equipment, when Joe started to tell the story of seeing the Beatles at their last live concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco 1966. BTW, this often happens, when the cameras are off, we get some of our best stuff (happened when Annie Leibovitz and I found ourselves walking alone through her exhibit in SF a few years ago)— I was determined not to let another good one get away, so I asked Matt to put our shoot back together so we could capture Joe’s story.

He said that a major source of his inspiration for his photography came from John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I asked how it was that music inspired his images, he exclaimed, “because it’s art!” He told the story of being at that last concert with the Beatles and hearing the whole stadium screaming, but not just the “chicks,” everyone was, and it was so infectious that he found himself joining in and screaming in wild enthusiasm. The enthusiastic connection to sound waves propelled him into orbit as an artist with light waves.

This got me to thinking about the various ways photographers have been inspired and pulled themselves out of the doldrums. For me it helps to look at other’s work, not to copy, but to get their take on life and see possibilities that I hadn’t viewed before. But the really big inspiration is going to new lands and new spaces, or simply getting into action to hit that magical point of switching on my creative eye, getting in the zone.

Once I was asked by the curator at Nepenthe in Big Sur, where I was showing my work, for new images of the Big Sur coastline. I had gone surfing at my favorite (but secret) spot in Big Sur, in fact I surfed my brains out, then drove north to the beginning of that most dramatic coastline on the planet, and captured images from every vantage point traveling south. The intensity of “dancing” with the ocean, called surfing, had certainly propelled me in the zone and gave me a jolt of creative energy—just like Joe’s Beatle experience.

I’d like to hear what you’ve done to kick start your inspiration. And while you’re at it, if you don’t mind, attach an image that resulted…

Portrait Photography Tips - Patrick Roddie's Burning Man Photos

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Today we're talking with well-known Burning Man photographer Patrick Roddie on Advancing Your Photography. Roddie is a self-taught photographer and he shares some tips for portrait photography that he's learned while shooting his Burning Man photos for the past 13 years.

Patrick doesn't follow a strict checklist of techniques when it comes to photographing people. Instead, he focuses on connecting with people and capturing the moment. He learned photography by taking pictures of "stuff", and wasn't sure how to approach and take pictures of people. But if you are comfortable with and trust yourself, portraits are much easier than you think!

Turn in to this episode of AYP to see Patrick's secrets for outstanding, natural portraits.

Crude Awakening: Photographer Captures Swimmers Covered in Oil

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Marissa, Crude Awakening. Photo © Jane Fulton Alt.

Like most Americans, photographer Jane Fulton Alt is disturbed by the extreme amounts of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the broken BP pipeline. In her new collection, Crude Awakening, the artist expresses her sadness with a series of oil-slicked swimmers who appear as if they’ve just waded out of the muck.

As Fulton herself explains, “Living on the shores of Lake Michigan, I am acutely aware of the disastrous toll the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has taken on all forms of life, especially as our beaches opened to the 2010 swimming season. This environmental, social and economic catastrophe highlights a much larger problem that has inflicted untold suffering as we exploit the earth’s resources worldwide.”

Fulton’s images feature haunting profiles of oil-covered beach-goers peering into the camera, their faces graven and helpless as if reflecting the world’s current feelings of frustration towards one of the worst environmental disasters in American history — A girl emerges from the water with oil-slicked hair; A family, streaked in the dark goo, stands forlorn on the beach; A pregnant woman stares angrily while a man next to her cradles a young boy.

Some have commented that Fulton’s shoot is nowhere near the actual spill in the Gulf, and therefore it is disingenuous and inauthentic. But Fulton says this disaster is being felt no matter where you live.

“We are all responsible for leading lives that create demand for unsustainable energy,” she says on her website. “We are also all responsible for the solution and we must work together to protect the balance of life.”

What do you think? Do Fulton’s images seem inauthentic now that you know they were taken in Lake Michigan and not on the actual oily beaches of the Gulf? Or do you find them interesting regardless?

British Photographer Wins Prestigious U.N. Refugee Agency Award

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Somali refugees board a smuggler’s boat headed to Yemen. Only 11 would survive. Photo: © Alixandra Fazzina

One of the world’s most prestigious peace prizes has been awarded for the first time to a photojournalist. Photographer Alixandra Fazzina has been named the winner of the United Nation’s annual Nansen Refugee Award for her work documenting refugees and victims of war.

“Alixandra Fazzina stands out as a fearless humanitarian who achieves something remarkable by unearthing and so vividly portraying individual stories of uprooted people,” said Antonio Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

With photographs that capture everything from the effects of land mines in Kosovo, child-soldiers in Uganda and refugees in Somalia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Fazzina’s work has brought the images of war to the front pages of papers like Time, the New York Times and The Guardian.

Her dedication to uncovering the plights of victims around the world who don’t necessarily get mainstream coverage deserves to be recognized, the international human rights organization said in a statement.

“For two years in Somalia she received no pay and spent weeks and months on end with people on the run, following them and feeling so passionate about bringing these untold stories to the rest of the world,” a UNHCR spokeswoman said.

Fazzina is the first journalist, and the first photographer, to win the award since it was created in 1954. She will be granted $100,000 which she can donate to the cause of her choice. Fazzina’s award-winning photographs are collected in the upcoming book “A Million Shillings, Escape from Somalia,” which follows the dangerous escape of Somalian refugees to Yemen via a network of smugglers.

You can read more about Fazzina and her work by visiting the UNHCR website. And after you see some of her photographs, let us know what you think. How can photographers like Fazzina help change the world?

Surf Photography: Chris Burkard's Tips for Getting Photos Published

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Chris Burkard is a freelance surf photographer known for his distinct and creative photos. He tells the story how, at age 23, he published his first photography book The California Surf Project. He gives tips for those who are aspiring to get their own photographs published. Chris Burkhard tells about planning the book from the beginning and working with his editor to get the final product that was well marketed around the world.

Richard Avedon Photographs May Fetch $6 Million at Paris Auction

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

A series of photographs from Richard Avedon, one of the most acclaimed American photographers of the 20th century, is set to head for auction in Paris this fall as part of a sale that some experts believe could net $6 million.

“Dovima with Elephants” (at left), arguably Avedon’s most iconic image, is among the photographs to be put on the block. The 2.25 meter by 1.5 meter print, of a supermodel posing angelically between elephants on a hot summer day at the Cirque d-hiver in Paris in 1955, hung over the entrance to Avedon’s studio in New York City for over 20 years. The image itself could fetch up to $700,000.

The Avedon collection, the largest of its kind, is being put up by the Avedon Foundation, which seeks to promote and maintain the legendary photographer’s legacy.

Avedon, who died in 2004 at the age of 81, made his mark in both the worlds of fashion photography and portraiture. His legacy includes celebrated campaigns for magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, iconic pictures of models like Twiggy and Marilyn Monroe, album covers, Presidential portraits, as well as coverage of the fall of the Berlin wall and the Civil Rights Movement.

“Richard Avedon is by any standards a towering figure in the story of photography,” said Philippe Garner, head of 20th-century decorative arts and photographs at Christie’s auction house. “His work has power, authority and intensity, very distinctive signature.”

So what sort of effect does Richard Avedon’s work have on you? And what would you pay to get your hands on a genuine Avedon print?

Photowalk with Thomas Hawk - Photography Tips and Advice

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:01 GMT

We're photowalking with photographer Thomas Hawk on today's Marc Silber Show Advancing Your Photography. Thomas is a San Francisco Bay Area-based photographer and his goal in life is simple—to photograph and publish a huge library of photographs covering a wide range of subjects, in fact he plans to hit one million images. To do this, he shoots, processes, publishes photos every day. He shares his photography tips as he adds new pictures to his library on today's photowalk.

Thomas Hawk approaches each scene from different angles and can shoot up to 50 different images of the same subject until he feels he got the right shot. He demonstrates this on our photowalk as he switches lenses and tells us his approach while photographing the "Big Building" on the Peninsula School campus.

Tell us what you learned from this PhotoWalk (and join us on our next).

Winners of the 2010 Press Photographer’s Year Awards Announced

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Times photographer David Bebber’s prize-winning shot of Colonel Gaddafi.The best

The best and brightest talents in photojournalism are being honored this week as winners of the 2010 Press Photographer’s Year were announced, including the photograph of the year, a captivating image of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi.

Pooled from 317 photographers in over 20 European countries as well as Asia and North America, and over 7,500 photographs, the Press Photographer’s Year 2010 awards showcase the very best in world-wide photojournalism.

Times photographer David Bebber’s image of Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi, shown observing a military parade in his honor from behind protective glass in September, was named photograph of the year.

Getty Images won five of the sixteen prizes in the online competition, the most of any organization. Among its awards were Best Folio for Daniel Berehulak’s moving images from war-torn areas in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Best Sports Folio for Laurence Griffiths collection of soccer and auto-racing photographs.

Billed as “the only competition that showcases the outstanding press photography taken for and used by the UK media,” The PPY awards aim to honor and help maintain the influence of photography in daily global news.

“Even in an age of rolling television news, internet and satellite communication, the traditional still image burns the keenest, fastest impression on the public conscience and is the most effective way to show the world as it really is,” read a press release for the organization.

You can see a collection of amazing photograph’s from this year’s winners, as well as purchase a 240-page book featuring the best of the best, at the Press Photographer website.

After you check out the images, do any of them inspire you to get out there and shoot? Do you have a favorite photojournalist whose work you think should be recognized as well? Tell us your thoughts.

Amy Deputy's Lighting and Composition Tips for Taking Unique Photos

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Professional photographer Amy Deputy talks with Marc Silber about her tips for advancing your photography. Amy specializes in unique wedding photos and portrait photography, and she shares some of her tips for how to improve your photography. She answers questions about

How best to get critiqued?
How to find a good mentor who will help you advance?
And how you can learn from your mistakes to end up with great shots.
Who should you ask for advice from and who not to?

Amy loves working with people and her approach to photography is to keep pushing herself to the next level by setting new goals. She works intensely with the lighting and capturing the moment as the core of her photography.
Whether it's a wedding or a portrait, there's always an opportunity to capture the unexpected in every image. The best way to take better photos is to practice, and Amy's advice is that you go out and shoot!

Two great tips: How to capture the best light? How to advance your photography? With Florian Shulz

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Nature and wildlife photographer Florian Schulz gives us two key photography tips, & answers questions:

How can you get better wildlife photographs?
What is the most beautiful light to shoot with & how can you utilize your time to capture it?
How can you get those wonderful alpenglows without harsh contrasts?
He gives tips for how you can keep advancing your own photography.
How to learn from other's work, what were their successful elements so that you can employ these to improve your own photography.

After you have seen this, click to see his full interview and tell us how you can apply this to advance your photography

Nurse in Iconic Times Square Kiss Photo Dies at 91

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Note we are now running a contest about this photo click for details. Edith Shain, the woman depicted in an iconic photograph kissing a sailor in Times Square at the end of World War II, has died. She was 91.

The famed photo, snapped by Life photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, shows a young woman in a nurse’s uniform at the mercy of a particularly excited young sailor. The pair’s lips are locked in a vehement kiss — a scene that would become one of the most iconic images of the war.

As Eisenstaedt describes it in his autobiography: “I was walking through the crowds on V-J Day, looking for pictures. I noticed a sailor coming my way. He was grabbing every female he could find and kissing them all — young girls and old ladies alike. Then I noticed the nurse, standing in that enormous crowd. I focused on her, and just as I’d hoped, the sailor came along, grabbed the nurse, and bent down to kiss her.”

For decades the woman’s identity was unknown, until finally in the ’70s Shain contacted Life magazine. She went on to reveal that she had been working at Doctor’s Hospital in New york when on August 14, 1945 she decided to take the subway to join a V-J Day (Victory over Japan) celebration in Times Square.

“This guy grabbed me and we kissed,” Shain said in 2008 of the sheer spontaneity of the kiss. “And then I turned one way and he turned the other. There was no way to know who he was, but I didn’t mind because he was someone who had fought for me.”

“As for the picture,” she said, “it says so many things — hope, love, peace and tomorrow. The end of the war was a wonderful experience, and that photo represents all those feelings.”

Over the years Shain would lead numerous memorial parades honoring World War 2 veterans, and she spent much of her later years educating others about the sacrifices made during the war.

As for the sailor in the photograph, his identity is still unconfirmed. Note we are now running a contest about this photo click for details.

Famed Magnum Photo Archive Opens to Public

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

This 1955 photograph of Marilyn Monroe by Eve Arnold is among the Magnum collection now open to the public

“When you picture an iconic image, but can’t think who took it or where it can be found, it probably came from Magnum.”

The Magnum Photo archive, widely considered one of the greatest photography collections in the world, with images from photography masters like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and many others, is set to open its doors to the public next week.

With more than 1,300 boxes of photographic materials dating from the past 80 years, the Magnum Photos Collection features some of the last century’s most iconic photographs. That includes Steve McCurry’s haunting image from 1985 of an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, Henri Cartier-Bresson’s iconic puddle-jumper from 1932, Elliot Erwitt’s photo of a veiled Jacqueline Kennedy at her husband’s funeral in 1963, a series of photographs that chronicles the 1961 John Huston movie The Misfits, with Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, and countless more.

The opening of the collection marks the end of decades of tight control around the images, after they were acquired by an investment firm earlier this year. Now they will be available for viewing by the public for the next five years at the University of Texas at Austin’s Ransom Center.

The Center’s director, Thomas F. Staley, lauded the collection’s immense “scope and diversity.” He added, “Magnum photographers have artfully chronicled some of the century’s most critical moments and figures, from social unrest to war, from political leaders to celebrities, and their work has often given voice to those traditionally omitted from news reporting.”

What do you think about the collections availability to the public? Which of the original prints would you be most excited to see?

Two Lighting Tips from Two Professional Photographers - Photo Tips and Tricks

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Two professional photographers give us two quick photo lighting tips! Matthew Jordan Smith and Bambi Cantrell both understand the importance of good lighting in photography, and they share their top techniques for getting it right -- always be aware of where light is coming from, whether you're in the sun or in the studio, and take a moment to see how light and shadows are interacting.

Travel Photographer Bob Holmes’ Tips on Natural Light in Photos

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Have you ever wanted to capture the great moments in your travels, but just don’t know where to begin? Well, who better to learn from than a three-time Travel Photographer of the Year award-winner?

In the latest interview of Advancing Your Photography, Marc Silber sits down with award-winning travel photographer Bob Holmes to offer some answers to this question, as well as an in depth discussion of what you can do to improve your own travel and outdoor photography.

With a career marked by several successful decades in the industry, Bob Holmes is a globe-trotting photographer who has captured breathtaking photos everywhere from the snow-capped mountains of Nepal to the rocky shores of the California coast. He has worked for magazines like National Geographic, Lonely Planet and Departures, and has been the sole photographer for 46 books. Perhaps most impressively, Bob has been named Travel Photographer of the Year a record three times.

Watch the interview and you’ll learn all about:

1. Learning to See Light — As primarily an outdoor photographer, Bob does not like to use artificial light. Watch the interview as he talks about the importance of seeing light not with your eyes, but recognizing how the camera would see it. Most people don’t see, Bob says, because they’re too busy looking.

2. Composition — As a photographer, you are responsible for what you choose to leave in (as well as what you choose to leave out) of your photos. Listen to Bob talk about the importance of always scanning the edges of your frames, and why there should never be anything in it that you did not intend to be in it.

3. Photography is like a Violin — “Keep shooting,” Bob tells us. “Shoot as much as you can. Photography is deceptively simple. You can’t expect to pick up a violin and play it within a week, and you can’t expect to pick up a camera and take great photos within a week. It just doesn’t happen.”

To see more of Bob Holmes’ tips and techniques on how to improve your travel and outdoor photography, watch the latest episode of “Advancing Your Photography” with Marc Silber. Also, be sure to check out more of Bob’s amazing work at his website, www.RobertHolmesPhotography.com.

Photos Copyright Robert Holmes

Famed Australian Fashion Photographer Richard Bailey Dies at 52

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Accomplished Australian fashion photographer Richard Bailey, who spent 30 years photographing the world’s biggest actresses and supermodels for magazines like Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 52.

Bailey passed away on Tuesday night in Sydney after a fight with bladder cancer that lasted six years. Despite his illness, and even in his final moments, Bailey never stopped thinking about his next shoot.

“In the last few years he made every effort to keep working, even though he was very ill,” his wife, former fashion model Gillian Bailey, said of her husband.

Richard Bailey’s career began at just 21 when he started shooting for Vogue Australia, where he would remain an integral part for the rest of his career. He actually got his break as an outdoor photographer but soon moved indoors to work in more fashionable settings, winning top photography awards and building relationships with stars like Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Janet Jackson, Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Eric Bana and Katie Holmes.

Campaigns for magazines like Neiman Marcus, Gap and Victoria’s Secret, as well as editorial work for Vanity Fair and GQ earned him recognition in the US as well.

“He was always really brilliant outdoors and had that northern beaches sensibility and a beautiful sense of light. All of his work had a quality that was above and beyond everyone else in the marketplace,” says Kirstie Clements, editor for Australian Vogue. “He was right up there with the best.”

1,200 Classic Polaroid Photographs from Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol and More Up for Sale

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

“Tetons and Snake River” by Ansel Adams is one of the many images to go under the hammer later this month. Photo by Ansel Adams.

Over a thousand photographs from the Polaroid Collection, which includes images from some of the biggest names in photography, like Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, Edward Weston, Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorpe, will be put up for auction later this month.

Famed auction house Sotheby’s will put 1,200 historic photos under the hammer as part of Polaroid’s court-approved bankruptcy sale. The sale will include the most comprehensive collection of Ansel Adams photographs (400 Polaroid and non-Polaroid images) ever sold.

“It is the largest and best collection of works by Ansel Adams to ever come on the market, representing a broad spectrum of most of his career,” said Denise Bethel, Sotheby’s photography expert.

Masterpieces such as Adams’ “Bridalveil Fall” (valued at up to $100,000) and the massive “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico” (valued as high as $500,000) will go to the highest bidder. The sale also includes Dorothea Lange’s iconic Depression-era “Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California,” which is valued at up to $80,000.

Working as a consultant for Polaroid, Adams helped build the company’s photography collection by acquiring works from masters like Lange, Weston and Imogen Cunningham, as well as those of contemporaries whose work he admired.

Many of the most well-known photographs from the 16,000+ images in the Polaroid collection will go up for sale, and they are expected to fetch a total of over $7 million. Sotheby’s will showcase the images for six days before they are auctioned on June 21-22 in New York.

So, what do you think about the auction? How much would you be willing to pay for an original Ansel Adams print?

Rare 19th C. Photo of Slave Children Discovered in North Carolina Attic

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

This undated photo showing of two slave children was found by collector Keya Morgan at a moving sale in North Carolina.

A 150 year-old photograph of two slave children — ragged, barefoot and sitting solemnly together on a barrel — has been discovered in an attic in North Carolina. Experts are calling the Civil War-era image extremely rare and an important piece from a dark time in America’s past.

The photograph was discovered at a moving sale in Charlotte in August by New York collector Keya Morgan, who paid a total of $50,000 for an album of family photos (including the above image) and a document detailing the sale of a slave. The accompanying bill of sale details the purchase of John, one of the boys, for $1,150 in 1854.

Art and photography historians are calling the photograph an extremely important and rare find because of the scarcity of photographs of slave children, and also because it portrays yet another aspect of the horrors of slavery in America.

“It’s a very difficult and poignant piece of American history,” said Will Stapp, a curator and photography historian at the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian.. “What you are looking at when you look at this photo are two boys who were victims of that history.”

Stapp and others believe the image was taken in the early 1860s by the photography studio of famed Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee portraitist Mathew Brady. Though Brady himself likely did not take the picture, experts believe it was snapped by his Timothy O’Sullivan, who is known for shooting Civil War photographs that depicted the terrors of war.

For now, Morgan says he will keep the photo in his private collection, though he has received offers from museums to purchase the image. But no matter where it ends up, Morgan says the photograph will always be a window into the lives of slavery’s victims.

“This kid was abused and mistreated and people forgot about him,” Morgan said. “He doesn’t even exist in history. And to know that there were a million children who were like him. I’ve never seen another photo like that that speaks so much for children.”

**UPDATE**

Could Keya Morgan’s rare find actually be quite a common photograph? Here are new details in the mystery of the slave photo.

Queen Stamp Photographer John Hedgecoe Dies at 73

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Photo copyright John Hedgecoe.

Photographer John Hedgecoe, author of more than 30 books on photography and creator of the most reproduced image in the world, the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that appears on British stamps, has died. He was 73.

With a career spanning fifty years, John Hedgecoe was an award-winning photographer who wrote dozens of books on the art of photography that have sold more than nine million copies (His most recent was The Art of Digital Photography in 2006), and was instrumental in establishing the department of Photography at the U.K.’s Royal College of Art in 1965.

However, Hedgecoe was most recognized as the photographer who snapped the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that appears on postage stamps throughout the U.K. and the Commonwealth. The image is widely credited with being the most reproduced image in the world, having sold more than two billion copies to date.

“John Hedgecoe was hugely instrumental in ensuring that photography was accepted as a creative medium in its own right at the Royal College of Art,” said a spokesman for the college. “While emphasizing commercial, advertising and documentary photography, John also laid the groundwork for what later became known as ‘independent’ photography.”

Hedgecoe’s passing was also mourned by the British Royal Photographic Society, who called it a “very sad loss” and described him as a man whose books have reached millions of photographers.

What’s Your Score in the 4 Stages of Digital Photography?

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

In my workshops I cover the 4 stages of photography which you can see in the slide above.

These break down roughly into:

1. Visualizing, composing and framing your image.
2. Knowledge and skill of use of your camera, lighting and equipment.
3. Post production: Processing and printing.
4. Getting your work out there whether you “share it,” sell it or show it.

These 4 stages are actually a continuous spiral that interconnect: As you improve your visualization you then need to be able to know how to capture your vision with your equipment and lighting; in processing you get an idea for showing your work, which might lead you to a new visualization of an image, etc.

As you’ve probably gathered, my belief is that there’s far, far too much concentration on stage 2– equipment, being obsessed and geeked out with it! As Bambi Cantrell said, “cameras don’t take pictures, people do.” Or Chase Jarvis’ “the best camera is the one you have with you!” But having said that, it’s important to know your equipment, just don’t get so obsessed with it and think it’s the end all; remember it’s part of the ecosystem containing these 4 stages. (Yes, it looks like there other aspects of photography such as how you relate to and direct your subject or models, or the business end of photography, but even these slot into their stages above.)

Now your next step in teh Marc Silber Photography School is to evaluate yourself: How do you rate in each of these stages? Are you confident? so-so? or in the dark? — on each one, and their sub categories.

For example, you may be confident with your camera but in the dark about artificial light (excuse pun .)

Take a moment and rate yourself (yes, we’ll put up a more formal survey soon, but start now.) Rate yourself and let me know what you come up with. This helps to establish your goals, and gives a yardstick: as you progress you can red-do this exercise and chart your progress.

How do you score?

Travel Photographer Bob Holmes' Tips on Natural Light in Photos

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Who better to get natural lighting tips from than a three-time Travel Photographer of the Year award-winner? We're at the studio of photographer Bob Holmes for today's Marc Silber Show - Advancing Your Photography! He shares some techniques you can use to work with natural light and take better photos, no matter where your travels may take you.

Bob has been all over the world and his travel photos have appeared in National Geographic, Departures, and 46 books as the sole photographer. Working outdoors on most of his trips, Holmes is an expert at using natural lighting in photos. He loves looking at natural light, and his unique tip is that you need to picture light the way your camera sees it, rather than the way you see it. And the key to learning how to use natural lighting is to practice -- you can't become a great photographer in a week, but you will get there by shooting as much as you can.

Landscape and Wildlife Photography Tips: Jim Goldstein and Florian Schulz

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Photo copyright Jim Goldstein

It’s two interviews for the price of one today at The Marc Silber Show!

We’ve been busy here at SilberStudios.tv, and now we have two great interviews to share with you. Acclaimed landscape photographer Jim Goldstein and award-winning wildlife photographer Florian Schulz each sit down with us for a set of engaging, informative interviews.

In the first, watch as we chat with Jim Goldstein and pick his brain on how to capture captivating images of nature.

Jim’s nature and fine art photography has been featured in numerous publications such as Outdoor Photographer and Popular Photography, as well as Penthouse Magazine and Huffington Post. His work is characterized by a deep passion for landscapes and travel, and this comes across in the enthusiasm with which he offers tips and techniques that you can use to improve your own photography.

Watch the interview and you’ll learn all about:

1. The Importance of Foreground — Try to craft a very sharp foreground. Jim advises to give your viewer something clear to latch on to in your photographs (whether it’s a rock formation or an animal’s eyes), and then their attention will go to somewhere outside of this focus point.

2. Golden Hour Lighting — The short hour when the sun is resting on the horizon offers a nature photographer some of the best lighting of the day. And since choosing the right light is half the battle, take full advantage of Golden Hour Lighting.

3. Exploration — For Jim, exploration is as important as creation in photography. This is because the exhilaration of discovering something unique can propel you to strive harder for that original image, and this eagerness and curiosity will show up in your photographs.

In our second interview, watch as wildlife photographer Florian Schulz discusses his thrilling career photographing planet Earth’s most beautiful creatures.

Florian’s work has earned him multiple accolades, including the award for BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Conservation Photographer of the Year by the National Wildlife Foundation. He has photographs featured in the Natural History Museum in New York, as well as a number of exhibits currently touring the country.

Florian believes photography should be a mix of adventure and gaining world experiences, and this enthusiasm for life is matched in intensity only by his dedication to long-term nature conservation photography projects.

Watch the interview and you’ll learn all about:

1. Capturing the Natural World — Listen to Florian as he discusses the importance of “immersing yourself in the natural world.” As a wildlife photographer, you are working on nature’s terms, so it is essential that you familiarize yourself with them.

2. Thinking of the Bigger Picture –Before you shoot, think about the story that is connected with the image. Watch Florian as he describes how to capture the narrative behind the photograph.

3. Dramatic Foreground– Watch as Florian talks about the importance of creating eye-catching foregrounds that will leave viewers wanting more.

To see more tips and tricks on how to improve your wildlife photography, watch our interview with Florian Schulz. Also, to learn more about capturing incredible landscape photographs, watch our interview with Jim Goldstein.

After you watch the videos, let us know what you think. What did you learn from Jim and Florian?

Ansel Adams’ #1 Tip to Advance Your Photography

Sun, 30 May 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Imagine you were fortunate enough to have attended Ansel Adams’ workshop in Yosemite. What do you suppose the grand master of photography would teach you? The complexities of his “Zone System” or how to operate a large format camera, or maybe he’d talk about some esoteric point of photography, while stroking his gray beard?

Nope.

It’s a characteristic of many students to sail right past the basics and expect what they need to improve their work, is some mysterious and hidden piece of knowledge.

Wrong again.

What they most need to learn is what is literally right in front of their face!

Let me ask you, what is in fact the most fundamental point of photography (or for that matter, most art)?

Is it the operation of your camera, our how to control a complex system? Or how to get that perfect exposure? Or which filter to use to get the sky to turn black (as Ansel of did)?

Or could it be as simple as learning to see your photograph?

Yep, this is about as fundamental as it gets–look and see!

That’s how we learn sports be it baseball, tennis, golf or surfing. “Keep your eye on the ball (or wave.)” The best have mastered this and arrive at square one.

Okay, here you are in a beautiful meadow in Yosemite, how did Ansel train you to look and see? He handed out black rectangles and told you to go out and use it to find and frame your shots.

So for the first class of our photography school here’s what you’ll do (and don’t bail on this because “you can already do it” or “that’s for beginners” or “I don’t have time for this” or whatever excuse… just do it!)

1. Click here to Watch this short video with Charlie Cramer describing how to use Ansel’s “framing card.”

2. Get a piece of cardboard or a file card and cut out a rectangle the middle of it like this (or you can use this as a template and print it on the card.)

3. Now go out and practice seeing images, like you heard Charlie telling you, moving the card.

4. Keep this up until you learn something! And leave a comment and tell me what you learned.

5. Do this exercise often, as you would use a backboard in tennis or go to the driving range.

6. Now remember our school is free for now but we do ask you to spread the word to your friends–tweet, Facebook and tell them to come on board!

What did you learn?

Jim Goldstein's Tips on Landscape and Nature Photography Equipment

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Looking for the right camera equipment to take great nature and landscape photos? Professional photographer Jim Goldstein shares his tips & tricks on the Marc Silber Show - Advancing Your Photography! When preparing to shoot, Jim's first instinct isn't to reach for his camera, but to use his brain -- the creative mind is the most important tool you have for visualizing your photos! Once you have a concept, you can apply this to any equipment you have on hand, whether it's an iPhone or a high-resolution digital SLR, and shoot more creative pictures than if you had just picked up a camera.

Jim always brings a DSLR and wide angle lens for his landscape photography shoots, and accessories like a tripod and fast memory card are essential. He also gives tips for when to get the best lighting in your photos, and most of all, to have fun behind the camera!

Jim Goldstein has had his nature and fine art photography featured in numerous publications, including Outdoor Photographer, the Washington Post, Huffington Post, and many more.

Florian Schulz's Nature and Wildlife Photography Tips - Taking Nature Photos

Wed, 12 May 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Nature and wildlife photographer Florian Schulz joins us today on the Marc Silber Show - Advancing Your Photography! Florian shares some amazing wildlife photography tips and tricks for taking stunning landscape photos. As with all photography, Florian says you need to get to know your subjects -- in this case, the natural lighting, landscape, and wildlife of the scene you're shooting. He loves taking pictures of entire ecosystems at different times of the day and year, and emerses himself in the natural world. Even though so much is out of your control when it comes to nature photography, you can still work with lighting and composition by choosing when to shoot and where to position yourself in a scene.

Florian Schulz was named Conservation Photographer of the Year by the National Wildlife Federation and Nature's Best, and has had his photos featured in the Natural History Museum in New York and several other recognized museums. His passion for photography comes from the mix of adventure and experience of the world he gets each time he goes out and shoots!