Rick Allen Photography Blog

The website turned two months old, this week.  And it had 12,000 page views during that time.  Amazing how connected the world is.  I hope most viewers find something interesting or informative or fun.  God knows it was a lot of work to get it up and operational.

A few new tools have been added.  You might note that there is an RSS feed button on both the blog and the web site.  The RSS button on the blog is a little more automated than the site, but the latter is compatible with more content burners.  So for those of you who prefer to be reminded of new content via Google Reader (for example), all you have to do is to copy the link into GoogReader “add new subscription.”

I am hoping an image submission page will be operational soon.  I am looking forward to opening the web site to more viewer content.

I am trying to keep up 1 new video per week and 2 new podcasts per week.  That is still taking a lot of time, but here’s hoping practice makes perfect — or at least practice makes the less than perfect faster.

I’m also trying to post newly published book recommendations.  For example, I recommended the book Perception and Imaging: Photography–A Way of Seeing. And I ordered a copy for myself as well.

Off to hear Frans Lanting speak for the entire day.  He is a fantastically gifted nature photographer. And I grateful to the Bell Museum for inviting him to speak.

Along with a couple of dozen other photographers from the Twin Cities area, I participate in monthly portrait shooting of models.  For the last several shoots, I have teamed up with quite a talented photographer named Dave.  Our respective skills sets seemingly complement each other well.  Dave is intrinsically a better photographer and composer than I.  On the other hand, as a retoucher, I tend to see details that will cause potential problems in post.  Working together seems to bring the best of both worlds together and I have learned a lot from him.  I hope the reverse is true as well.

Dave posted a recent blog titled, Why Models Suck!!!  I was so intrigued at the universality of his message that I thought I would engage my response in a more public way, to see if we can bring others into the thread.  Here is the email that I wrote and subsequently decided to post here instead.  (Dave, I hope you don’t mind.)

Dave,

 Quite the provocative post!  I really like it.  I have several comments regarding the post.

- Not all images are intended to be story-telling.  Some photos may be as simple as a study of line or shape or color.  Painters seem to understand the breadth of genre better than photographers.  Imagine the former engaging in a conversation about whether the image is true to reality of not. I’m sure the conversation must take place, but not in the course of my everyday events.  Contrast that against photography, where the first question anyone asks is how much Photoshop did you do on this image?  And the people asking the question, frequently enough, have even seen the program.   But your post was presumably speaking to that form of the art that is usually associated with story telling.

 - Indeed, I agree with the the generalization that beautiful people make beautiful pix.  But I am as convinced as often as not, the reason I take better pix of beautiful people is because I pay more attention to beautiful people.   On other other hand, when I take a lack luster pix, I am probably not that engaged in the pix.  And the reverse of the previous two statements is also true.  I wonder if models are more “alive” in front of the camera when the photographer is beautiful !?!?!   A quote from Garrison Keillor comes to mind, “radio is for actors not beautiful enough to stand in front of a camera.”  I have also watched numerous photographers (including myself) lose the interest of the model when we chimp too long and too frequently.

- I ceraintly beleive that the “best photos connect you to a place and time, irrespective of whether or not the literal image comprises either that place or time.   When I can, I will post the picture of Isis and Kari back to back to contrast against your image of them separated.  Your image tells a much better story.  In retrospect, I only wish that I had noticed more sooner for your image that Isis could have mimiced the hand on the hip and the other down at the side to connect mother / daughter a little better.

But isn’t that why we go to those shoots???

Rick

I posted two new podcasts this week, both on aspects of Dynamic Symmetry and visual recognition.  They describe the use of elemental designs that built up to shape or pattern recognition that on a perfect planet would in turn reward the viewer with yet a broader understanding of the image.   The latest podcast is on Gestalt Principles and Recognition.

For the last several podcasts and vidcasts, I have tried to use words where images are probably preferred.  But the purpose of trying to use words is to force the visually-minded in the crowd to “think” a little more about what makes great composition.  (of course, I’m speaking about myself.)

The podcasts have helped me understand that there is another level of picture taking beyond story telling to one of reward for the viewer.  Now becomes the challenge to put those prinicples into action and see how to create more exciting and rewarding imagery.

Enjoy listening, and post comments if so moved.

Rick

A new video will post early Monday morning, describing some of the challenges I faced in placing the horizon line in a series of images taken mostly in Death Valley National Park, California.  It was interesting for me to recall the issues I faced and to review (at least in my own head) how some of them were less than totally successful, as I struggled to balance the multiple elements in the frame, where the horizon is just one of those elements.

The funny part, which I make only passing reference in the video, was the fact that I tried to get clever when shooting the above image.  Thinking how smart I was to have brought along waders, I was literally in one of the reflecting ponds, a rareity in itself in Death Valley’s Cow Creek.  It never occurred to me that while I twisted and turned to optimize the composition, that I was sinking deeper and deeper into the muck of this pond.

All of a sudden, I was empathizing with all of those dinosaurs trapped by the edge of some water pool, only to have some dinosaur-ologist find their bones some 65 million years later.  Fortunately for me, help was a lot closer than 65 million years, and I was able to get out - with only 3″ of mud stuck to my tripod and boots.  Jeezz.

Oh well, the video is a lot more serious in tone, trying to share Elements of Design with a photography audience.  I hope you will take a minute to watch it, actually 13 minutes to be exact.

Rick

Oh, well. The decision came down today about the selection of the individuals to participate in the NW Hawaiian Island Marine Environment expedition.  I thought I put together an extremely strong application, but it clearly did not fit the template of an environmentalist.  Skilled in rubrix analytics, I knew it was a long shot from the beginning.  A big time thanks to all of you who helped me with the application process.

Here’s the letter. “Unfortunately, we were not able to select you for the program this year.  We received 75 nominees - far more than we anticipated, and the quality of the proposed projects was very high and the breadth of expertise extensive. “

On the positive side, I will not be spending thousands of dollars to get to Hawaii or for the camera gear I would have purchased had I been accepted into the program.  Now, I have 2 extra weeks of vacation to use any way I want.  Sylvia, Steve,  Josh, and Linda:  we will have to create our own workshop.  How about northern California (or possibly further north) this summer??

Rick

When do you dismiss the idea that a calendar is too old?  Many of us - including myself - assume that if the calendar is already two months old, then it is a waste of money to purchase it.

However, we know from TV sitcoms that some people will keep old calendars up on their walls for years - and in some cases, decades - after that year has passed.  My own mental image of those folks is that they care so much more for the images than the calendar itself.

So it is with my recommendation for a 2009 calendar by masters of their craft: Eckhart Tolle, and father and son duo, David and Marc Muench.  Where are you going to pick up large color prints to admire for a mere $2.79?? I can’t even get a Wendy’s burger for that kind of money, and it will inevitably be healthier to my physical and spiritual soul than the burger. Tolle’s message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment.

Rick

The final decision will be made by Friday as to who will receive the NOAA and Wildlife and Fisheries grants to travel to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.  I am not sure exactly when I find out, but I am still hopeful that my application will be approved.

For those of you who are fans of National Geographic magazine may recognize the name, Jodi Cobb, photographer par excellence.  I was fortunate enough to have taken a workshop where Jodi was a co-instructor.  During that workshop, Jodi gave an evening seminar open to the public, where she reviewed several of her more notable photo essays.  Trust me, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, and this in an audience full of crusty old photographers.  Jodi is one of the contributors to a new book to be released next week, Mothers and Children. I highly recommend checking out this book. For your convenience, I have attached a link here.

Yesterday, a couple of friends invited me to go along to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN, a 90 minute drive down the Mississippi River.  Up here in the Twin Cities, the Mississippi is still frozen.  Interestingly, at about Lake City, MN, the river opened up.  A sure sign that spring will one day return.

Upon arrival, it was clear that our idea of visiting the Eagle Center was not a unique one, as it was about as full as it could possibly get.  This is almost the ideal time of year for the eagles to be seen, but we only saw two, far off in the distance, soaring high overhead.

Many of you may not know that my home is on a tall bluff adjacent to the Mississippi River.  I frequently look out my window to see bald eagles, flying up and down the river looking for fish.

But of course, I can never get as close to the eagles as one can to the injured birds that the Center treats, following accidents or accidental poisonings.  And it was at the Center that I took this image of Harriett.  She is a star in her own rite, her image appearing on “Support Our Trooops” specialty  license plates and on numerous tv shows including the Colbert Report.

Aidan and Callum, you can see that Harriett sports a bit of a mohican or mohawk hairdo.  (I’m not sure eagles like being referred to as mo-hawks.)  She has a tuft of feathers that stands up on her head, and it’s not because she’s having a bad hair day. If you click here, you can see that Governor Pawlenty must not have liked the mohawk hairdo either, because the tuft of feathers has been “photoshopped out.

Hmmmm, I seem to recall another Republican, former Mayor and former Senator Coleman, that didn’t like the corporate logos donning the Saint Paul city skyline.  He had them photoshopped out for an ad he ran when campaigning for the Senate.  It probably would have never made the news, except that it was his mayoral administration that sold the naming rights to those corporations in the first place.  Oh well, he is a politician….

Harriett is at the Eagle Center, because she was struck by a car in California, and flown (via airplane) to Minneapolis to recuperate, where they had to amputate part of one wing.  So, she can no longer fly in order to feed herself.  She expresses her need for aggression by cinching down on fingers or thumbs of her keepers.  Aidan, you may remember when you accidentally dropped my camera on your big toe.  I calculated the force that hit your foot.  Imagine it being four times more painful.  That’s the amount of force Harriett uses when she’s  annoyed.  Oohh, baby.  That must hurt.

To my eye, Harriett looks like she’s getting a bit gray (kind of like me).  The tips to her feathers are no longer solid brown.  And it you kind of de-fcous your eyes, doesn’t her sitting posture look a little like a chicken??  Probably, not the kind of comment Bobby Jindal likes to hear.  “Like my dad said years ago, Americans can do anything.”  Maybe, Bobby could splurge for a coloring and styling job for Harriett.

Rick

After posting the picture of Dan - which by the way looks great on my 30″ Apple Cinema Display, I see that the background appears TOO DARK when posted to the blog (or to Flickr for that matter).  Since this is supposed to be a site about Advanced Retouching, it probably isn’t that great an idea to leave obviously floating heads hanging around the site.  I will fix later today and replace the original in that post.

Send me a comment about the original before it gets changed.

On a completely unrelated note, I was watching the the Oscars last Sunday evening.  There was Wolfgang Puck showing the desserts to be served at one of the upcoming parties.  It was with a smile on my face that I remembered the distinct pleasure and privilege I had, assisting during a photo session of his wife, Gelila Assefa, at their home in Beverly Hills.  Wolf, Gelila, and their two children are all great people.  (Oh, btw, Gelila is a knockout.  Really stunningly beautiful and personally warm and hospitable.)  We scouted the shoot on a Sunday, and I had the opportunity to play ball with the children.  I was pretty busy helping set up outside on Monday, the day of the actual shoot, when Greg comes out to say that the kids were asking, “Where’s the fun guy?”  ooohhh.  That made me feel good.  So, for me the highlight of the Oscars was the fond remembrance of playing with Wolf’s and Gelila’s kids in their backyard in Beverly Hills.  And it doesn’t even bother me that none of them probably have any memory of me what so ever. LOL!

Rick