Category: Richard Mack’s Blog

The Trip You Want on Your List of Experiences

May 26, 2012
ItalyJill BucknerJill Buckner PhotographyMoroccoNew Booknew projectsRichard MackRichard Mack PhotographyRichard Mack's BlogtravelWorking with another photographer

Today we are leaving on one of those trips that are on your life list probably, at least for us it is. Really more like two trips in one. We fly to Florence, Italy and shoot for a week in Tuscany. The client is a tour company so we need scenes of the area along with people shots and we get to join the tour and shoot what they are doing as well. Then we spend two days on our own in Tuscany, yes probably shooting some more for ourselves plus relaxing in a Villa near San Gimignano. Then on Monday we fly to Casablanca, Morocco and will also visit Marrakech. This is for a possible book we are working on with a working title of Treasures of Morocco: A Sensual Feast of Color. This book looks at Morocco from the aspect of its bright colors, sensual food, and the combination they bring to the country.

The book is intended to bring people together from both countries as awe work on the book and the accompanying video and music for the eBook side. Jill has been to Morocco, albeit in College, so it will be interesting to see how much has changed since she has been there. I have not been to Italy or Morocco so I am especially looking forward to the experiences of both places.

We then return to Florence and spend three days exploring there before taking a train up to Venice and spending time photographing that famous city. We hope to have images to add to all of your homes after a gallery show sometime this fall!

We are both so excited about this trip and what it will bring to us – it is a trip of a lifetime. Keep watching this space for updates from overseas! We’ll upload a few images along the way as well.

Ciao,

Jill Buckner & Richard Mack

 

Putting together a Portfolio of Images…

May 24, 2011
Black & White PhotographsNew WorkRichard MackRichard Mack PhotographyRichard Mack's Blog

 

I was asked by an art consultant if I had Black & White images she might be able to use for some of her clients, which are both private collectors and corporate collections. I am known for my color work, but I have been shooting Black & White images since I first held a camera when I was 18. I think every landscape photographer wants to shoot those grand B&W images and delicate close-ups in B&W. There is often more emotion in a B&W image, I believe because of the tonality of a great print and the lack of color which takes it to a different, unseen level, from real life.

 

 

So, I went to the files, now all in Lightroom, and selected a few of my favorite images. I also converted a few of my color images I had always thought would be great in B&W as well, even though I love there color versions. I am honestly not sure which way I like them in some cases. Each has a different feel.

 

 

  In going through a series of images shot a few years, or in some cases, many years ago, it is always kind of fun as the memories of each trip come flooding back. This of course can be a hindrance when you are editing as your emotions of the shoot come through and you may include a shot you might not have chosen without such memories. Hence it is sometimes a good idea to have a friend who is either another photographer or designer, or even a curator, to look over your selections. I opted for none of the above this time since time was of the essence. There were some I thought might make my first cut which on closer inspection just didn’t cut it. Other images came to the forefront when I didn’t expect them. Going back over your work also gives you a perspective of your abilities over the years. Both the times you excelled and those when you didn’t. It also gives you a broader look at your style and how you work. I think this is something every photographer should do occasionally, for going back through your work to put together a collection of images is always eye-opening and gives you that broader look at where you have been and where you are headed. This provides several options from which you can springboard forward in your new work.

 

I realize this is just a small sample of my collection of Black and White images. But it is fun to share these for now… to see the select I have made for now use this link: B&W Work  

Enjoy!

Richard

Changing Your Pre-Conceived Ideas as Needed

April 18, 2011
ExpectationsGreat Lakes ProjectLake MichiganLighthouse BeachLighthouse Beach PierRichard Mack PhotographyRichard Mack's Blog

Since tonight is another Full Moon yesterday I once again ventured down to my favorite place to shoot this, or try to. As past readers know Lighthouse Beach is about a mile from my house so it is very convenient and has the relics of an old pier to work with. Now I have probably shot there dozens of times, certainly in and around the beach in various seasons. I have never been able to get a shot of the Full Moon rising which I have in my head. And last night I was once again thwarted in my attempt as the clouds moved in as the evening wore on. Yet when confronted with the idea your preconceived image will not be had, or even if it is, the thing I always try to do is look for other images. This may sound simple enough and intuitive – of course you should look for other ideas. But you’d be surprised how many folks just give up. “Oh too bad the sunset isn’t nice.” “Boy I wish the clouds were different.” “Where is the wildlife?” “Boy it is a crappy day out!”

Really? Not sure I’ve ever had a day where you couldn’t get something. Might not be what you were thinking when you started but there is always something. So, struck down in my quest to capture the full moon rising over the old pier yet again, I set about making images in the evening light anyway. I noticed that the lake was not dead calm but almost. What caught my eye this night was how even everything was. The light was flat, the lines of the horizon and the flatness of the water played against the clouds above. I kept the color balance close to 6000K which recorded the scene with a slightly bluer color than what my eyes compensated for. Plus you can always change the color balance when processing the RAW files in Lightroom. 

This night was all about the negative space and the lines which made the images come to life. One of my favorites from the evening was this image of the jetty and water. Very minimal yet it strikes me as a fine image. I also played with selecting just a few of the posts and water. Set against what was left of the evening sunset. 

It is all about letting go of your preconceived notions of what you are after and adapting to the conditions you are given. Something it seems is applicable to more than just photography. I was talking to a class of 7th graders the other day before they started out to investigate their neighborhood with fresh eyes and record it for their journals. I mentioned that part of the process is seeing outside your preconceived notions. Change perspective – don’t just put the camera to your face and snap it. Move up, down, side to side, get in close, step back. Get a different perspective and you may be surprised by the results. I used the water bottle sitting on a desk as an example and told them maybe to get in real tight and shoot just the label, or get in tight but include all the folks behind it. I think they might have thought I was nuts when I said you could make an interesting shot of a water bottle. I wonder if any of them did something like that during their assignment. 

Anyway, back to my point of changing your preconceived notions when needed… just because you go out to capture one image, I have found sometimes the best ones are the ones you never thought of until they were in front of you. Be ready and enjoy the moment!

Peace,
Richard

To View more from this evenings shoot use this link: Sunset at Lighthouse Beach

Postscript: The night to shoot the full moon is the night before it is full as it rises at the same time the sun sets, giving you some daylight to work with in the landscape.

Not About Photography – but Biking…

July 31, 2008
GeneralRichard Mack's Blog

Sam on Bike

I want to take a small diversion today and talk about something besides photography, nature, or book publishing and tell you about a blog I know about. A friend of mine, George Zrust, and his wife Nancy, have taken up the noble cause of not using their car. Instead they bike everywhere, take pubic transportation or walk. Now Nancy seems to be the leader on this one, although George writes the blog. Nancy has been seen riding in 1 ½ feet of snow! (OK, walking it down the unplowed alley’s we have to get to the plowed street – but hey it’s winter! And yes, I know many folks ride all winter – Nancy did 700 miles between January and March) Anyway this is a great blog with lots of stories, both for the good and the bad of biking around town instead of using a car – think groceries, rain, above mentioned snow and cold!

 

Now I have taken to road biking in the last year or so – although not as often as I’d like – still need to commit to a Century Ride at some point – maybe next year. But giving up the car – beyond me (besides I like my Miata and the Chevy Pickup with our camper on its back) – but I applaud them!

 

So check it out over at www.georgezrust.com/carfree/ it’s worth a look!

 

Oh, and the image above – something I shot a longtime ago of my son on his bike.

 

Here’s to Biking!

Richard