GPP Shootout, Part Deux

We interrupt today's regular programming, as the 2011 Gulf Photo Plus Shootout video featuring Zack Arias, JoeyL and Photographic Zenmaster Gregory Heisler (not shown) has just dropped into Vimeo.

Confession time: Working in front of 300+ people? Been there. But I sure am glad I did not have to work under the pressure of Heisler's blistering mic. Let's set the stage, shall we?

Following last year's Polaroid Boy fiasco, JoeyL absolutely had to produce. And Zack, ever the stalwart, was gonna do his thing, of course. What they could not know was that Heisler, after dogging them during their shoots, would later decide to pick up a camera himself...
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So, who is Greg Heisler, and why do you not want him riding you while you are shooting? Well, because he makes photos like this, this and this. (Each opens in a new window if you have not seen these vids before.)

So yeah, pretty decent photographer. But where's Heisler still a newb? A rookie? A veritable babe-in-the-woods?

On Twitter, that's where.

I think even with the above small taste in the video, you can see just how suited for the medium he is. And he actually has a twitter account, with over 500 followers, just waiting for him to get his ass in gear.

As of this posting: One whole tweet.

If we get him up to over a thousand followers, I say he pretty much has to join in the fun. So I am asking every one of you to follow Greg on Twitter and send an @reply to him, personally inviting him to tweet more than, well, once.

I'm pretty sure he can take it.
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In all seriousness, these kind of fun, if sophomoric, competitions are just one of the many reasons GPP totally rocks. I can't wait to get back there next year.

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What to Expect When You're Expecting... an eBay Beauty Dish

I'm a mod slut.

Which is not to say that I am both promiscuous and a snazzy dresser, because I am neither. But rather, I am a sucker for new and different light modifiers. Lots of 'em. Just like Imelda Marcos and shoes.

And especially when they are cheap… Read more »

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On Assignment: Mixing Light with Finn O'Hara

Ed. note: I'm living on a bus for a bit. Please welcome today's guest poster, Finn O'Hara.
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Good afternoon Strobistors. My name is Finn O'Hara, and I'll be your guest blogging pilot for the day.

I'm thrilled that David asked me to guest blog this week while he's off on his road trip of a lifetime. I greatly admire this site and it's community based approach to photography.

I'm most likely new to a lot of you, so I'll give you a little background on myself, and how I fit into the photography world. I first came to photography at a young age, as my father worked at Kodak after we emigrated to Canada from England. I dabbled in photography growing up, but it wasn't until 8 years ago that I started to take it more seriously.

I'm self taught, so my camera and lighting techniques are all cobbled from a few years of assisting, as well as a lot of trial and error. I specialize in location based portraiture, and some of my clients include Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Esquire, Time, Nike, Coca-Cola, and the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club.

After reading through the archive here, and pondering an appropriate lighting subject to write about, I realize that all the tools to enable you as a versatile photographer (lighting wise), are all here. So what I'd like to impart to you all is my lighting approach, which has established a somewhat recognizable style to my work, and I think it might offer some of you a next step in your own emerging lighting processes. Read more »

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Not Your Average Joe

Quick note from the road, where the Flash Bus crew is working our way east after coming down the west coast.


Q: What's the coolest (among many) thing about touring the US for 13k miles in this 55-foot rolling dutch oven?
A: Getting to watch McNally explore CLS TTL for 29 afternoon sessions.


I grew up as a photog idolizing the guy, but that's gone to a whole new level of respect for both him and his folks. Suffice to say, the man can hit a curve.

As much as I am gonna take crap for admitting this, I would feel pretty darn comfy by now trying some complicated TTL setups. Don't tell him I told you that, though. 'Cause I'm not switching. That'd be heresy.

The crew is gelling really well and the days are getting better and better. Loose and tight, at the same time. We'll be home for a few days of much needed family time, then it is time for the East Coast swing. We'll see you guys there.

And speaking of the crew, here dey is:



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(Photo up top by David Daniels, who posted about the day in Salt Lake City. Thanks, David!)

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OT: Manage Your Funnels

Editor's note: We are stepping outside of the box today.

As photographers, we are more likely to be hired as creatives than to hire a creative. But recently I was involved in choosing a print designer, a video production house and an illustrator.

Seeing the different paths that lead us to each of these people was a little like having an out-of-body experience. It was a cool look into the other side of the equation, and one that left me with a better understanding of marketing my own services as a photographer.

Three funnels you should not discount, inside. Read more »

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On Assignment: Miller Mobley's Birmingham Chaplain

Ed. Note: Today's guest post is the second of two, from NYC-based photographer Miller Mobley.
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Back in December I was commissioned by a local magazine in Birmingham to do a series of portraits on hospital Chaplains. To be honest, I had not been given any art direction on how I should execute the photographs, I basically had the freedom to do what I wanted -- it's a great feeling by the way!

I immediately started to concept some ideas for the shoot. Unfortunately, I was not able to do a location scout of the hospital sanctuaries where these portraits would be taken. I decided that if I liked the location then I would do an environmental portrait and if I thought it was drab and boring I would setup a background. I had been practicing a new lighting setup that I really wanted to try on the Chaplains. So I was hoping for the background setup, and to my luck it just so happened. Read more »

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Cut One Light Off, Three More Grow Back

Macro shooters take note: For not a lot of money and a little DIY work, you might not have to buy a second flash to do some cool, multi-light photos.

Marcell Nikolausz, of Leipzig, Germany has been experimenting with fiber optics and the same Loc-line channels that are the staple of Gorillapods and the like.

The result? The octopus-like contraption you see above... Read more »

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Unavailable Light in San Jose

Since starting in Seattle, we have now worked our way down the entire west coast of the US and are in San Diego enjoying our first day off.

Me: "Sure is a beautiful day today."
Anyone from San Diego: "Yeah, um, it's beautiful here *every* day…"

Had an interesting thing happen in San Jose Monday, where Don McKee took the picture of the bus at top. I was right in the middle of my talk, explaining why big dark rooms are our friend, when we … got a new friend.

The power went out for a good portion of San Jose, including our venue… Read more »

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Miller Mobley on Making Work for Your Portfolio

Editor's note: Please welcome New York-based photographer Miller Mobley as our guest poster today. Miller specializes in advertising, editorial and portrait photography.
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I'm from a small town in Alabama known for it's college and more importantly its college football; Tuscaloosa. I had never picked up a still camera until I was entering my sophomore year of college at the University of Alabama.

I wanted to major in film production, but came to find out there was no such thing. The next best major was studio art with an emphasis of b&w darkroom photography. I picked up a camera and started taking pictures. As my junior year of college rolled around I was making tons of work, but really not getting paid for any of it. So I started meeting with ad agencies and magazines to show them my portfolio. Suddenly, things started picking up and I was getting quite a bit of work.

I decided that the whole college thing was not for me, so I dropped out and pursued photography full steam ahead. I'm now 24 years old and living in New York with my beautiful wife.

I first just want to thank David for giving me the platform to share, what a great opportunity! There are so many things that I wish I could talk about, but the one thing I want to focus on today is making work for your portfolio and of course the technique. Read more »

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Nikon's D7000 Sync Dial Goes To Eleven

I'm just getting familiar a new Nikon D7000, which we are using to get some video on the Flash Bus tour. The camera gives some good files -- both stills and 1080HD video.

Just out of curiosity, I taped over the back two contacts tonight to see if I could overclock the sync a little. And I had a pleasant surprise… Read more »

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Lighting in Layers is Here

If you pre-ordered your copy of Lighting in Layers (first of all, thank you!) they are in stock and shipping. They are also available for purchase now at Midwest and Adorama.

You can find out more about the 6-DVD lighting set here.

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Smack Talk and Pelican Cases in Dubai

Oh, look, it's Zack Arias and Polaroid Boy JoeyL talkin' smack ahead of this year's Gulf Photo Plus Shootout in Dubai. This is the kind of thing done for the local market (make it Suntori Time...) but naturally, I thought we should run it here, too.

If you are newbish, the GPP Shootout is like Iron Chef meets Whose Line is it Anyway, but for photographers. A live assignment, in front of 300+ people. You have to shoot (w/edit and post production) with a 20-min time deadline. And I so hope they'll have Heisler as the heckler played by McNally last year.

You can see a rundown of the 2010 competition, in which Zack and JoeyL battle valiantly for 2nd place, here. Plus, the Polaroid Boy reference will make sense.
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:: Gulf Photo Plus 2011 ::

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Q&A: Bleeding Power from Big Lights with Big Mods

Manila-based Diego Lorenzo Jose asks:

Could you share how you use the ND gel sheets on your big lights? I'm wondering how I could maybe use them on my monolights with big modifiers like a giant octa or softbox.

The good news is that's actually pretty easy, Diego. And you might not even need to buy any ND gel, either. Read more »

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BOLO Alert: The Flash Bus is On the Loose

UPDATE: We have a winner!
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The Photoshoppers -- close, but no cigar:



(Fair warning: The Flash Cart pic links to Fake Chuck Westfall's [typically NSFW-lang] post...)
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SATURDAY, MARCH 5 -- BE ON THE LOOKOUT: The bus has just departed from a secret location east of the Mississippi en route to Seattle, Washington. If you are the first to see it, you'll definitely want to grab a pic... Read more »

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Field Trip: Mumbai, India with Martin Prihoda

It's not often we get to point to something really cool in such a complete and illuminating way.

Not so long ago, photographer Martin Prihoda left the relative safety of a comfortable life in Vancouver (seriously, who leaves Vancouver?) to transplant his photography career to India.

Hit the jump for a BTS vid on the Cosmo cover above -- and links to two posts which show you his path to that moment. Read more »

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