VERDICT WORK: 'NON-TRADTIONAL' FAMILY PORTRAIT

 

-Norman Rockwell 

 - Verdict Photography

Recently I worked with concept guru Eric L. Morin on developing a new take on the family portrait. We came across an awesome Norman Rockwell painting from 1943 called 'Freedom From Want' and decided to do a test shoot with his family.  We used continuous lighting and set a custom balance to achieve that warm feel in the painting.  I think that it is a super fun piece and can't wait to conjure up a new idea for another 'non-traditional' family portrait.

  

VISUAL STIMULI: VEASYBLE PROJECT

Italian based design/artist quartet who collectively go by GAIA, have a cool project called VEASYBLE. 

One part social commentary, and one part wearable accessory, VEASYBLE is definitely on the cutting edge of visual art.

While their site is all in Italian, the awesome photography is worth checking out no matter what language you speak.

Feed your head HERE

CHECK THIS ARTIST: MIKEY BURTON

Midwest bred and Philly based designer, Mikey Burton has worked for bands you listen to and shows you watch and has gotten awards from magazines you read.

View Mikey Burton's Site HERE

READ THIS BOOK: BECOME INSTANTLY COOLER

No, seriously...read this book.  Big fonts and cool ways to think about making it in an artistic business...it wont even take you that long.

Description and Reviews
From The Publisher:


It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be is a handbook of how to succeed in the world - a pocket 'bible' for the talented and timid to make the unthinkable thinkable and the impossible possible.

The world's top advertising guru, Paul Arden, offers up his wisdom on issues as diverse as problem solving, responding to a brief, communicating, playing your cards right, making mistakes and creativity, all notions that can be applied to aspects of modern life. This book provides a unique insight into the world of advertising and is a quirky compilation of quotes, facts, pictures, wit and wisdom, packed into easy-to-digest, bite-sized spreads. If you want to succeed in life or business, this is a must!

He gives original and logical answers to everyday questions. Much of it appears obvious when you read it, but aren't all questions easy when you know the answers? Whether you are a school-leaver, self-employed or a managing director, this book is invaluable for everyone who aspires to succeed. Just as Sun Tzu's  Art of War is read as a lesson in business strategy rather than fighting in a military sense, or Machiavelli's The Prince is written about government but is used as a guide to management, so this book uses the creative process of good advertising as a metaphor for business practice.

Paul Arden began his career in advertising at the age of 16. For 14 years he was Executive Creative Director at Saatchi and Saatchi, where he was responsible for some of Britain's best known campaigns including British Airways, Silk Cut, Anchor Butter, InterCity and Fuji. His famous slogans include 'The Car in front is a Toyota' and 'The Independent - It is - Are You?'. In 1993 he set up the London-based production company Arden Sutherland-Dodd where he is now a commercials director for clients such as BT, BMW, Ford, Nestle and Levis.


*Buy it on Amazon HERE

Relieving Everyday Stress w/ Yoga guru Kathryn Budig

                     - Verdict Photography 

Livin' ain't easy! It seems today the stresses of everyday living pile up faster than ever (especially for those photographers out there) and I'm not sure there's much we can do about. But, the one thing we CAN control is how we deal with it. My longtime friend and 'yoga guru to the stars' Kathryn Budig sent this video over as a quick demo on how some simple yoga poses can help relieve everyday stress.

video here - www.kathrynbudig.com/video_03.php

To see more of Kathryn, check out her website.

PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR HAITI!

Brendan Seibel wrote this awesome article on how photog Lane Hartwell is helping the victims of the disaster that just occurred in Haiti. Showcases how one photographer CAN make a difference and cements the fact in a world of guns and bombs, a man with a camera can be just as influential. 

Read the article HERE

Cover image of Oné Respe by Peter Pereira

RAY FLASH - Studio Look at a Lo-Fi Price

Did you ever wonder how those fashion guys get super clean images with all shadows around the edges? Well, they do it using a ring flash. You see, with a regular 'hot shoe' flash, all the light is coming from above the lens (or to the left of it if you are shooting portrait style). This is what accounts for the shadows under things...like a nose or chin. The same is basically true when using softboxes and umbrellas. The light source comes from a fixed source that is usually above and/or off to one side of the lens.

However, the ring flash produces a light source from 'all around' the lens thusly canceling out the shadow from it's 360 degree counterpart.  Sounds cool, right?! Well, it is. The only bad thing about these guys is that their coast can be well up into the thousands!...until now.

The (above pictured) Ray Flash gives you the great studio look quality of an expensive ring flash, but in a smaller, much cheaper version that actually attaches directly to your hot shoe flash and 'carries' the light to ring flash portion via reflecting light. Oh, and they only cost about $200! 

They make 'em to fit specific camera and flash models...so know what you're looking for.

Check them out at:        www.ray-flash.com

Cool Interview w/ legend Albert Watson (dbl click to enlarge)

WHAT'S THE VERDICT?

In my first actual post to my new blog, i guess i want to 'lay down' what it is actually that I am trying to accomplish with this conglomeration of words and pictures.
First off, this blog is dedicated to, and made for people who dig photography...plain and simple. I myself am a working professional photographer, but i wasn't always...I was a kid with a dream (and still am) I've had cool jobs along the way and others that I don't care to remember. The contents of this blog are geared to anyone who can fit between 'kid with a dream' and 'pro photog'. I have learned a lot on my (continuing) journey through becoming a photographer, and like all knowledge, the things I've picked up along the way mean nothing unless I can put them into some meaningful semblance and pass them on...at least, i think so.
The posts, links, and all other stuff found on this blog are meant to guide, help and inspire those who get enjoyment from looking through a lens. Whether you're a seasoned shooter or just getting into photography, there will things on this blog that you can pull from and hopefully add to your own personal arsenal of acquired knowledge.
Thanks for checking out The Verdict Blog..and stay tuned for more to come!!

Welome to the Verdict!

Hello and welcome fans of Verdict Photography!!  I am excited to say that I have just added this blog onto my website and have cool things planned for content. Please check back as I update this blog with all sorts of fun stuff that pertains to the life of a photographer...cool links, reviews on gear, tutorials and a place of general photography fun facts...please enjoy!!

-Zach

* This is our very first post...ever! 

The Verdict Photography Blog has moved!!

See our new digs over at VerdictPhotographyBlog.com