Plains Bison in Profile

Plains Bison in Profile, 2007

This is a re work of a colour image I did in 2007. I was going to include it in the exhibition but didnt have wall space for it. The images I did print look fantastic though.

These two Plains Bison were very close to me for the better part of half an hour in the enclosure at the Riding Mountain National Park. At this point about 20-30 feet away from the drivers side door of my Honda CRV.

All I am doing today is moving and hanging prints. I don't expect to be online for more that a moment or two on borrowed net access to check email.

Mike

Mike Wood Photography

The ten hour photographer

Tell Me a Story, 2008

Photographer Martin Schoeller quoted from a piece in Resource magazine by Charlie Fish.

“If you’re going to take a picture, really try to make it the best picture you’ve ever taken, every time. Always strive for the best you can do.” This level of professionalism requires that you live, breathe and eat photography, and that every step along the way is executed with great attention to—what else—the details. “If you want to be a photographer,” he advises, “Be a photographer ten hours a day instead of spending five hours retouching some half-ass picture you don’t like in the first place.”

Schoeller reveals, “If you want to do portraits, you have to be outgoing and be able to engage people. I always say a third is photography, a third is diplomacy, and a third is politics. By doing a lot of research and finding out what they have done in the recent past I know where their mind is at. I’m able to engage them in a conversation so they forget for a moment that they’re being photographed.” While this may be common practice to many photographers, Schoeller’s research manifests itself in another way. “I always play music that I think they might like, or remind them of their childhood. We always have a little stereo with us.”

So true on all points. No one ever accused me of not sleeping, breathing, walking, and talking photography! I apologize for going on and on about it at times with my friends who are nice 'n polite about it when I do... :)

And I certainly, whole heartedly advocate not taking the so so picture in the first place. That way you don't have to spend 5 hours editing it. Take a good one to start with and you are good to go. Don't rely on post work to make it better than it actually is or ever could be. :)

And while I like the quote from Schoeller a lot, I can't say I am a fan of some of his subjects as illustrated by his images here at his West Coast US rep's Gallery. Chacun son goût, I suppose. :)

Via APE.

Mike

Mike Wood Photography

Portraits and Landscapes Exhibition stats

Homestead Vulcan County, AB, Canada, 2007

Although the title was somewhat spur of the moment when I was asked what the exhibition should be referred to as in the Artscape, Scene Magazine, etc advertising, I wanted to make an effort to balance between the number of portraits and landscapes I had at Williams.

So here are some numbers since I worked it out for myself.

• 28 images in total
  
• 19 are 8x10 or larger images
• 9 are 5x7s
• 4 in colour
• 24 in black and white
• 9 portrait orientation
• 19 landscape orientation
• 13 with people
• 15 landscapes or non people images
  

Seems to be fairly evenly balanced. Though there is a slight balance towards the black and white. No idea why. :)

Mike

Mike Wood Photography

Sunny Saturday Scouting

Yesterday, on my last free day for a bit -well it shouldn't have been free as I have a lot of stuff to get done over the next five days with moving 'n the exhibition, I picked up Mallory and went down to Port Stanley on the Lake Erie shoreline and bought her a birthday lunch at the near century old Mackie's cafeteria style restaurant on the beach. It was the first Orangeade of the season too after a snaking Disneyland like 17 min lineup in the landmark beachfront restaurant. You would think it was summer or something already. :)

Later in the afternoon, I scouted a few new and useful locations that I hoped would be great for photos in the near future. I even shot a few frames here and there for possible inclusion in another potential exhibition in the fall. Finally, I topped it off with some preliminary discussions with a new model on using the new found locations in early May after I am settled in my new location.

I also managed to miss the rain storm that hit London while I was down there as it never really happened that far South. Heavy overcast and the Environment Canada radar looked brutal, but nothing more than a few sprinkles on the windshield.

Mike

Mike Wood Photography

A caveat on Tweets n Facebook posts

I was reading over on APE a post about being wary about broadcasting too much in a Twitter post (a tweet for those not in the know) and on social networking sites generally.

A photographer emailed him a story about how he lost a chance to shoot a campaign with an ad agency as he put brief details about the job on his twitter page and on Facebook. Someone at the ad agency saw it and then it went down hill from there. Apparently an obscure NDA was involved...

Moral of the story is make sure you can do that with any prospective/actual work, or be somewhat oblique about what you post. That can apply to really anything, but it would suck to lose a job over something as seemingly inconsequential as a tweet.

Mike

Mike Wood Photography

Marilyn Monroe episode of American Masters

Marilyn Monroe in Manhattan, 1955, © Michael Ochs/Corbis

Very late last night, I watched episode 61 of the American Masters series on PBS. This one was Marilyn Monroe: Still Life. Fantastic. Documented her life in photos from the beginning till towards her decline in about 1961.

A really wonderful series of images, narrative, and interviews with photographers, assistants and friends interlaced with a chronology of gorgeous imagery and behind the scenes video on set and elsewhere like when she rode into MSG in NY on the top of a pink elephant for a children's charity.

One of the many photographers who captured something of Marilyn on film during her life highlighted in the episode was American Michael Ochs, who shot the above iconic image of her on the rooftop of the Ambassador Hotel in NYC in March 1955.

Hard to beleive she died when she was just 36.

If you like MM, it's a great hour of TV.

Mike

Mike Wood Photography

May 2009 Exhibition at Williams is on Deck

I will have a selection of portraits, several landscapes and a few local photos on exhibit and for sale at the Williams Coffee Pub at 3030 Wonderland Rd S. at the South East Corner of Southdale Rd here in London during the month of May.

Opening night reception is Tuesday May 5th, 2009 from 7pm- 10pm and the show runs all month.

This is one of the best Williams in the city and has free WiFi, free parking, is licenced to serve alcohol and has a great atmosphere. Come on down and check it out during the month if you can't make it for the reception. :)

I have created a Facebook Event for this as well if you are on the social networking site.

Hope to see you there!

Mike

Mike Wood Photography

Contact 09 info now available

Contact 2009 has updated the page with current information. And according to Bunmi Adeoye from Contact's press office who responded to an email of mine,

The CONTACT magazine is slated to come out on April 15th. It will be available at the CONTACT offices located at 80 Spadina Avue, Suite 310 in Toronto, at the 220 CONTACT venues across the city, at magazine and bookstores across the country, and internationally at Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges.
The price for the magazine is $7 - but it is usually free at all venues.

The site has information on the hundreds of venues under the Open Exhibitions and can be nicely sorted by type of venue too. Time to plan. :) Still need a map to plot things out tho. Too much to see in one day.

One interesting item under the programs link, is that TVO is going to have a month of photography programming during May. At least thats how I interpret the info. It could be that they are having screenings at the TVO offices in Toronto too as there is a Mapquest link. Tons of really good stuff including episodes of "The Genius of Photography."

May could be a really good month to get yer photography on. :)

Mike

Mike Wood Photography