I enjoy taking self portraits. I like documenting my life but I hate people taking my picture. Ironic I know…

There are many reasons I dislike being in front of the camera. The main reason is just because I am 100% uncomfortable when someone is taking my photograph. I spend most of my time taking photos of other people but when the lens is turned on me I am struck with anxiety. So, I found out a long time ago if you like your picture taken but don’t like people to do it – you have to do it yourself.

Here are 11 quick tips to help with Self Portraits (in no particular order)

1. Have Fun

2. Loosen Up

3. Experiment With Light

4. Get out of Your Element

5. Set Marks for Where to Stand or Sit

6. Focus on an Object at Your Mark

7. Use Auto Focus and Then Switch to Manual Focus to Lock In The Focus

8. Use a Tripod

9. Use The 10 Second Auto Timer (or Remote)

10. Exercise Patience & Take Your Time

11. Have Fun – It’s Just Photography

My Self Portrait Photography can be seen here: Flickr / Portfolio

Do you have any tips for self portraits? Do you want to show off your work? Leave a comment with a link to a gallery or specific photos.

]]> http://grtaylor2.com/2010/03/09/11-tips-for-self-portraits/feed/ 6 http://grtaylor2.com/2010/03/07/mike-watt-missingmen-rhythm-room-phoenix-az/ http://grtaylor2.com/2010/03/07/mike-watt-missingmen-rhythm-room-phoenix-az/#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:13:16 +0000 GRTaylor2 http://grtaylor2.com/?p=628

When I was told Mike Watt was coming to play in Phoenix I was stoked. The Minutemen (Watt’s pioneering punk trio – I hope I didn’t really have to say that…) were a huge influence on me. (Sadly, The Minutemen came to an abrupt end when singer/guitarist D. Boone died in a car accident leaving Watt in a state of depression for years.) Their landmark record “Double Nickels on the Dime” set a new tone for music of that era. Conversely, when I was told Mike Watt was coming to town I had some apprehension.

What if Watt, now 52, didn’t live up to my expectations as a punk hero to me. Would it be another experience like when I saw Lou Reed at The Marquee Theater in Tempe? or would it be more along the lines of when I saw Paul Westerberg a couple of years ago? (Lou was aweful Paul ruled.)

Before the show I went to the ATM to grab some cash just in case some libations were warranted. As I made my way through the crowd, I saw a guy standing next to the ATM listening to the opening band LITE (awesome instrumental group from Japan – check them out.)

Holy shit – it was Mike Watt. I wanted to tell him how long I’ve been a fan and how my friend Weep would make everyone listen to The Minutemen until we agreed they were the best thing ever. How I saw the movie “We Jam Econo” and felt his pain because we lost our best mate Weep in a car accident and there was a certain sort of synergy in the situations.

But I didn’t say anything like that…

We went outside and  exchanged a sentence or two and this is how it went – GRT: “Mike we are psyched to have you back in Phoenix.” MW: “Thanks I appreciate it, it’s been a while.” GRT: “Growing up in Warren, NJ -we all wore out more than one copy of Double Nickels.” MW: (Raising a fist to the air) “D. Boone!“

I just walked away because he could have been yelling “Weepee” just the same…

Mike Watt + The Missingmen were amazing. (Click here for a link for a show review in The Phoenix New Times.)

Photo Notes: The Rhythm Room is a tough place for a photographer. Anyone can bring a camera into the venue (which is very cool) so I have to deal with a lot of catch flash and others with less than perfect photo etiquette. The lights are good at times and terrible at other times for photos – but that’s just all part of the game.

]]> http://grtaylor2.com/2010/03/07/mike-watt-missingmen-rhythm-room-phoenix-az/feed/ 0 http://grtaylor2.com/2010/03/03/photographer-interview-series-j-grant-brittain/ http://grtaylor2.com/2010/03/03/photographer-interview-series-j-grant-brittain/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:49:50 +0000 GRTaylor2 http://grtaylor2.com/?p=600

Skateboarding, Art and Music are so intertwined. These disciplines were the staple of my youth and still the fabric of my life. If you’ve ever picked up a skateboard magazine there’s a good chance you have seen J. Grant Brittain’s work.

Grant’s photography always pushed the envelope. He has a style of capturing the moment but also a unique way of placing you on location. His skateboard photographs are more than skateboard pictures – they’re fine art. To say that I’m a fan of his work is an understatement.

I asked Grant if he could answer a couple of random questions for my Photographer Interview Series and he graciously accepted. This interview was done via email and re-posted without edits. We discuss his infamous Chris Miller polecam photo, digital photography and workflow plus where he finds inspiration.

How did you get the idea to use the polecam at Upland to shoot Chris Miller? (click here to see the photograph)
Miller told me not too long ago he thought of the pole cam idea, I thought
I did. A surf photog had used one in the water, that’s where the idea came from.

Can you describe the equipment set up? A Nikon FM2 with 16mm fisheye on an adjustable tripod head mounted on a monopod and a squeeze bulb shutter release coiling down the pole.

How do you feel about film vs. digital? That old argument is dead, it’s a non-issue in photography circles.

Was the transition to digital difficult? Switching was easy, it’s just another tool in the paint box. Photoshop is the digi darkroom. I love them both, however you can’t do a magazine in 2010 without digital, you’d go out of business both as a magazine and as a photog.

Can you describe your digital workflow? I just put everything in folders. I use Bridge a bit.

If you had to give a beginning photographer one tip to last his whole career - what would that be? Perseverance, just stick with it. If you love it, keep doing it. The money or fame will follow.

What photographers inspire you? The Masters, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Walker Evans, Ralph Gibson, Keith Carter, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, etc. The skatephotogs of the 70s that came before me, Warren Bolster, Glen Friedman, Jim Goodrich, Ted Terrebonne, Craig Stecyk and James Cassimus. I learned by looking at their photos in the mags. I also get inspired by my peers.

What projects are you currently working on? Just doing The Skateboard Mag with (Dave) Swift, Atiba (Jefferson) and the others, we’re working on our 75th issue. I am the Production Manager and Director of Photography and a co-owner, so I have my fingers in everything running a business. Personally, just shooting the skate photos I really want to, mellow shoots, no cops. I’m also working on a portrait project.

I want to thank Grant for taking the time to do this interview. It’s an honor to have someone that I look up to do the first interview for this series.

Do you have any favorite J. Grant Brittain photographs? Leave a comment with any thoughts about this interview or suggestions for interviews in the future…

(*please note all attached images are © J. Grant Brittain)

If you asked me what are the three most important things a beginner photographer should know – I’d say “Know your equipment, know your settings & trust your instincts.”

Sounds simple enough, right? Let’s explore these three photo tips for beginners…

1. Know Your Equipment : When I say know your equipment I don’t necessarily mean spend hours reading the manual that came with your digital camera or with your latest lens. Reading the user manual is always a good start but sometimes I think it leads to more questions than answers. There are a lot of really good camera field guides published for whatever camera you own. (example of after market camera guide) So now that you are familiar with the basic operations of your camera and how it operates – it’s time to go and shoot photos and put your new knowledge into use. Figure out which of your lenses are better for the different photo subjects you are interested in and how they react in the different light situations. You know the stuff that NO book will ever be able to teach you. I am a big believer in going out into the field and learning by doing.

2. Know Your Settings: For every photo situation I embark on I have a mental log (started out on a notepad) of my baseline settings. These are my starting point for ISO, Aperture and Shutter speeds. With that being said they change from time to time depending on lighting conditions and other variables but I always start at my baseline. Experiment with different settings in various conditions, review the image (the most powerful part of digital photography in my opinion), make adjustments and do it all over again. As you become a more seasoned photographer you’ll develop your own preferences for settings and what enables you to make great photographs.

3. Trust Your Instincts: Sounds easy but this is where many beginner photographers stumble. Just because you read something in a field guide or in an article someone like Scott Bourne writes doesn’t mean it’s an absolute. If you develop a strong sense of the first two tips this one will eventually come naturally. If it’s a dark day out and you think ISO 200 will be better than ISO 400 – give it a shot. If you think 1/125 will get you a better photo than 1/60 – do it. Prove or disprove your own theories. There are times when I photograph concerts and I only have a split second to capture an image so I rely solely on my instincts. Trust me, as you develop into a photographer with your own style and sense of surroundings this will fee natural – but in the beginning it will be a struggle. John Coltrane had a saying about music theory that applies well to photography, “Know the theory, know the scales but when it comes time to play – just play!”

This is just the tip of the iceberg and the building blocks to developing into a photographer that makes great photos. If you had to give a beginning photographer a couple of tips what would they be? Post a comment below and share some of your knowledge…

There are moments when I am shooting photos that I lose track of  my surroundings. Let me clarify, sometimes I am so engaged with my photo subject that I don’t realize who or what is around me at that moment. A couple of weeks ago my brother Kevin came to town. Just like every other visitor Kev came to Arizona with a list of things that he wanted to do and see but I didn’t expect landscape photo shoots to be one of them.

Kevin and I took to the road and headed to the Four Peaks Mountains and a couple days later Kevin, Kristina and myself went to Sedona. Two great locations in Arizona for landscape photography.

After our photo trips back at the house in Tempe we sat down to compare images. Kevin surprised me with a couple of magnificent photos of me taking what I consider key landscape photographs for my portfolio. How cool is that! Now I have photographs of me taking some of my favorite photos.

Check out more of Kevin’s photos on his Flickr page by clicking here – Thanks Kevin it was great having you visit and it was a lot of fun shooting photos with you.

The last time I’ve been this hyped on a new band was when someone gave me a copy of Is This It - by The Strokes. We Were Promised Jetpacks, from Edinburgh, Scotland came to Phoenix, AZ on tour to support their album These Four Walls and killed it. Four guys with a indie sound and indie spirit that played their asses off for the sold out crowd at The Rhythm Room.

The Rhythm Room is a great old Phoenix Club that has hosted some legendary shows over the years. Since it is such a small venue taking photographs is a challenge. The lights are dim and there is not much of a spotlight during the sets. Another challenge is that when the club is at capacity moving around to get a good spot for photos is tough. The crowd stands up against the stage and there is no real photography access. Luckily last night the crowd was mellow enough that I could politely ask people to move for a minute and they were happy to oblige. In hindsight the tough shows to photograph are always the most rewarding and I am happy I had the chance to shoot ‘Jetpacks in such a small venue.

Most of the show was photographed  at ISO 800 with my 24-70 f2.8 lens at about 1/60 (with no flash.)

What new music are you hyped on? What was your toughest music photo shoot?

Here is a recap of my Concert Photography 101 series and links to older posts. Music and photography are my two biggest passions – no wonder I am so passionate about music photography.

Getting Started taking Concert Photos: The equipment needed to produce quality live music photos (click for post)
Basic Camera Settings for Concert Photos: I discuss my baseline camera settings for concerts. Also, discussed is ISO and various lenses. (click for post)
Photo Credentials: This was no doubt the most anticipated part of the Concert Photography Series. What is needed before you request photo credentials. (click for post)

What am I missing? Please let me know what else you want to know about taking Concert Photos. I am willing to post and share whatever knowledge I have – so please post a comment with questions or suggestions.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Webisode TWO of my FOCUS series. This webisode highlights a self portrait I took at Papago Park in Phoenix, AZ.

If you have a photo that you would like featured on FOCUS please contact me a via Email

To view my complete photography portfolio please visit www.grtaylor2photo.com

In the first two parts of my Concert Photography 101 Series (Getting Started & Basic Camera Settings) we discussed the basics of Concert Photography. I have received numerous emails asking how do you get your equipment into the venue.

[In my opinion concert venues have a skewed idea of the professional camera. Locally, venues define a professional camera as a camera with detachable lenses. Ridiculous, but that's another post for another day.]

There are many photo friendly venues here in the Phoenix area. Before you attempt to take photos from the photo pit start at the bar / nightclub level. Talk to the band and get their permission and then fire away.  Hone your chops and get really good at taking music photographs. It will save you a lot of frustration, headache and disappointment.

Once you feel confident about you photography skills I would try to align myself with a local publication (either print or online.) If you are successful at aligning yourself with the press – you will have no problems getting photo passes and most of the time you will not even have to make the request. Make sure you honor any commitments you make regarding deadlines – if you lose credibility with the photo editor you will not be sent out to cover an event again.

Freelancing is a little different. Before you contact a band’s publicist (HINT HINT – who to contact for credentials) make sure you have a professional portfolio. A professional presence will increase, but not guarantee your chances of gaining access to the photo pit. I spent a lot of time developing my website (through Photoshelter) to the have necessary online portfolio presence. (www.grtaylor2photo.com)

If all else fails – ask someone at the venue. Try and go back by the buses and ask to speak to the tour manager. There is a slight chance he may override the venue rules and allow you inside to photograph the show from the crowd. This situation may not be ideal but it’s better than not getting a chance to shoot the show.

Recap of Tips For Photo Credentials

1. Make sure you have the portfolio to back up your request
2. Align yourself with a local publication
3. Get creative – ask the the tour manager the night of the show
4. Honor all deadlines and commitments
5. Have fun – you may have the best seats in the house for at least three songs

Did I leave anything out? Let me know how you have been successful gaining access to photograph concerts?

To view my complete photography portfolio please visit www.grtaylor2photo.com

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone – I wanted to display two photographs that visually illustrate the feeling of Love.

These are my favorite photos that illustrate love. The top I took at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2002. The painting is Munch’s Vampire and the couple in front of the painting are complete strangers. This also is an example of having your camera ready at the right place and time.

The bottom photo I took of us the old fashioned way. Held the camera in front of us and snapped the photo. It was taken on a carriage ride through New York City’s Central Park.

Do you have any photographs that visually express the feeling of Love? Post a link to them in the comment and share!