Beyond Shutter Speed
I remember trying to photograph my friend Christian about one year after I got my first camera. I moved slow, making sure that little needle inside (light meter) was lined up just right. Check the shutter speed. Ok. Got it. Check the aperture. Ok. It’s where it needs to be. Then focus. By that time, Christian had got up and walked away. Christian’s cousin, Trent Nelson, is photojournalist and so Chris was used to that kind of photographer. Moving quickly, making a record of things as they unfold.
Sometimes making a picture is like hitting a fast ball. The first time you play baseball, you don’t have to try and hit a pitch that’s coming at you at 100 mph. Instead, you first hit off a T. Then you try hitting and underhand pitch. And with enough practice and some time later, you’re knocking it out of the park at any speed.
So now I’m a wedding photographer and things move pretty quickly. It helps to get to the point in making pictures where the camera is just an extension of your brain. That what you see, can, in an instant, be recorded for the history books (aka – the wedding album). At that point, fiddling with shutter speed and camera dials means the bride is already down the isle and you missed the kiss.
But anyone can master that part of photography in a relatively short amount of time and then the question is why some pictures are more successful than others. Making pictures that truly sing, pictures that move people to tears, pictures with soul, require more that just a properly exposed image. Yesterday, on his blog, David Alan Harvey, one of the world’s great photographers wrote about the importance of connection to the subject here. You’ll draw your own conclusions, but for me, I read that blog post and think that it’s hard to make a good photograph of another person if you don’t or can’t make a connection with that person in some way. That’s a skill seperate from making pictures, but a skill the good pictures can’t do without.
Utah Portrait Photography – Sarah and Michael
Sarah already told Michael what she wants for Christmas. She said she wants some portraits of the two of them from Justin Hackworth Photography. I always knew Sarah was smart.
Here’s a short slideshow with a few more of their portraits.
Utah wedding – Alyn and Stephen
Here’s where you can see the whole event and order prints.
Portait of Jonathan Canlas
I knew when I woke up yesterday that it would be another great day. Turns out, I was right.
Jon Canlas is a pretty big deal. He’s sponsored by Fuji, he publishes his weddings in all the finest wedding publications, and he photographs weddings all over the world. And the amazing thing, is that he’s only 16 years old. Just kidding. He’s older than that.
Yesterday he came to my office and we had a great time talking about why we shoot weddings and what moves us to be photographers. He told me about his process and I told him about mine. (One thing that’s becoming increasing unique about Jon’s route is that he shoots all film). And we talked about the photographers we admire both in the wedding industry and in the commercial world.
I’ve admired Jon’s work for some time now, so it made me so happy to be able to spend a couple hours talking about the craft with someone I respect. Thanks, Jon. I want to have more days like that.
Jonathan Canlas – Photographed in Provo Utah by Justin Hackworth
Advice for photographers
Advice for photographers:
Never think photography is easy. It’s like poetry in that it’s easy enough to make a few rhymes, but that’s not a good poem. –Chris Steele-Perkins
There’s so much more where that came from on Magnum’s blog.
Portraits of the five nurses
In May, all five of these ladies will graduate from the University of Utah and become nurse practitioners. Can you guess which one is my sister? And here’s a one-minute slideshow if you care to see more pictures.
Portait of Design Mom, Gabrielle Blair
Everyone loves her wildly popular blog, DesignMom, but the real fun is being around her. Gabrielle is funny, bright, lively, and spirited. No wonder moms find so much joy from her site.
Gabrielle: Thanks so much for your time. It was a real pleasure meeting you. I hope our paths cross again soon.
Photographed at Zermatt Resort, Midway, Utah.
Provo Gallery Stroll – November
The first Friday of every month in Provo is Gallery Stroll. Good times, good art.
Here’s a fun slideshow with more pictures.
Autumn
Today we raked leaves.
Engagement pictures in Salt Lake – Michelle and Barry
She’s working on a PHD in English Literature, he sells Ex-Eastern Bloc military aircraft. Now, their getting hitched. Check out this slideshow with more of their engagement pictures.
Hi Lesley
This post is just for you. Thanks for reading.
Long Island
Photography put to good use
Have you seen this? And, do you ever see something that is the sort of thing you would have thought of if you were smarter or putting forth a little bit more effort (or, at least that’s the way it feels)? Well, that’s how I feel about The Human Calendar. I love it. I think it’s so cool. And I wish I would have thought of it. And then the other thing I wonder, is, if this is old news and mentioning it here is like getting an email from a dopey friend that wants to tell you all about this new thing on the internet called MySpace.
Provo Bridal Portraits – Lisa
Their wedding is almost here!
