Sometimes a bad day can turn to good, or a good day can turn to great. All it takes are a few little words from your client. I’m feeling very happy after delivering some images to a Washington client and receiving the message: They are gorgeous!
Beretta Is On The Right Track…
I’m always looking at newspapers, magazines, advertisements and catalogs. I love to study the photos, layout and general design for inspiration. It’s a good way to keep moving forward, stylistically.
I recently picked up a Beretta catalog and thumbed through it. The Italian company makes hunting and sporting apparel, firearms and accessories. Most of their products are very pricey. They have good product photography, a nice, manly, retro design and simple, solid layout. However, the lifestyle photography seems to be a bit stiff and cold. Maybe it’s just an Italian esthetic that I don’t quite get, or maybe they just didn’t get the right photographer for the people shots. Either way, I expected more.
I think they are on the right track with their catalog, but I believe the company can do better on the photography next time.
Photogs Beaten Up On Reality Shows?!?
Here is a link to a story about a photographer who was assaulted on a public street after taking a photograph of a reality television series being filmed:
I can’t personally speak about the details regarding this specific attack, as I was nowhere near the incident and I have never met Ashi Fachler before. However, I can say that I’ve had plenty of encounters with the people who create these reality shows. Some have been nice, like the people for Bridezillas. Others have been horrible, like the people for some defunct VH1 show that I ran into at Ozzfest one year.
The VH1 security people saw me with a camera near their film crew and threatened me. One huge guy demanded to see the images on my camera and said he would harm me if I took pictures of them. This kind of bullying does happen, as they try to keep information about their upcoming episodes from being leaked.
It is terrible enough to be threatened by someone just because you are near their filming location, but imagine how easy it would be for these people to go from threats to actual violence!
Dallas Concert Photos…
I was digging through some old computer hard drives and I ran across some old concert photos to share. The images are four or five years old, and they include Tony Iommi, Ronnie James Dio (who passed away from cancer in 2010), Alicia Keys, and Robert Smith of The Cure.
If you like these photos, check out more of my work at www.janikphoto.com
Looking Back…
Just glancing back through some old photos, and thought I’d share one from a few years back…
Good Work JCP!!!
I’m liking the new direction that JCP is going with their advertising and marketing! It’s not quite at the level of a Neimans or a Macy’s ad yet, but it sure is better than their old stuff!
Being a Dallas-based company, many North Texas creatives (myself included) have spent a lot of time and energy up at JCP headquarters or at one of their contracted studios. They have a bunch of talented people working for them, and I think this new direction is a breath of fresh air!
Profoto and Beyonce…
Here is a nice video interview of photographer George Holz describing his shoot with entertainer Beyonce…
20×24 Polaroid Camera…
Here is a nice little story on a Polaroid 20×24 photographer:
I’ve known about these cameras for years and years, but I’ve never seen one in real life. It sounds like I never will… or, at least I’ll never get the chance to shoot one. Speaking of big film, I really need to head out with my 8×10. It’s just been sitting, begging me to use it!
What About Ronald?!?
When I was posting self portrait snaps of me the other day, I should’ve included this one. How can you not love Ronald McDonald?!?
And, I also like this self portrait of me on an assignment to shoot a ballet practice at SMU…
Pictures of Jason…
I’m not used to pointing my camera at myself, but I’ll turn it around every once in a while. Here are a few self-portraits that I took. Above, you can see me and Drew Barrymore after a shoot to promote one of her movies.
This was me in a clean suit at Texas Instruments to shoot their production facility.
Here I am in the photo pit at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Me and Jordin Sparks after a shoot in Addison.
Me and Ben Kweller backstage at the Granada Theater in Dallas, TX.
Rarely do people get to see a Tyrannosaurus rex from this angle! Me in a scissor lift during a shoot at the museum.
Me in my old studio. I look sleepy. I must’ve just returned from a late night shoot.
I don’t think that hard hat fits too well. And I definitely need a haircut! Me at the Perot museum construction site.
The only shot I included that wasn’t related to work… It’s me and my two oldest boys at Disney World! They are so cute, I couldn’t resist showing them off.
The closest I ever want to be next to a giant shark!
Me and Owen Wilson at a Gala event for the museum. He was a very nice guy.
Me and my middle boy in my old studio after I finished a photo shoot.