image-x '08 workshop wrap-up

after a week of digesting what was absorbed from image x ’08 workshop, i admit i need another two weeks to continue to digest.

in the french quarter of new orleans, i spent an entire workshop day with john michael cooper and a second day with jessica claire. considered among the best in the wedding photography industry, john and jessica are polar opposites in shooting style and theory. but they have one thing in common: they know how to inspire.

my brain was a sponge of new information for 72 hours, thanks in part to 25 pages of notes, hundreds of photographs, and hours of recorded videos. i savored every bit of the two point five day experience. witnessing first-hand how the industry’s best shoot, do business, and are inspired... i walked away with a confident notion of what i like to shoot, and, more importantly, why.

i also found inspiration of the limitless possibilities afforded by the camera and the creative messages that can be created and the fun in creating images. i relished every opportunity to meet new photographers, which continued the learning into the wee hours of the morning and even the plane ride home (thanks, jeff).

john encouraged us to try something different.... kristen did a wonderful job modeling without superstition.
RJK_1166

john gave us an assignment to go out of our comfort zone. he ripped out a page in a magazine and gave it to each student. our project: use the image for inspiration in our own unique style. featured left: a scan of the paper he gave me (it lived in my pocket for a few days), right: the inspiration in the final shot.
w_pose

brides with mustaches was 100% john’s idea. why? because “know one else will have mustaches today.” be different, says john.
RJK_1132

same goes for the obama and mccain masks:
RJK_1147

a typical bridal shot:
NAK_5841

and a not-so-typical idea of the ‘queen of hearts,’ as modeled by kristen:
RJK_1263_2

four-second exposure with light-painting via video light:
RJK_1266

day 2: jessica claire (in foreground) with models, allison & ricky:
NAK_5995

this is really 100% a jessica claire set-up shot... but she does a awesome job of helping clients boost confidence in front of the camera. allison & ricky met minutes before this shot was taken!
NAK_6066

there’s nothing wrong with chimping, says one of the world’s top 10 wedding photographers:
NAK_6029

split in groups of 10, we each had individual mini-assignments. for the next three shots of jen & ken, we were told to shoot in our “eclectic signature style”:
NAK_6147

a bit of wide-angle drama with my favorite nikon 12-24 f/4 lens:
RJK_1377

LOTS of photographers shooting the same couple can be challenging when attempting to create a new idea/pose/composition:
RJK_1381

so i opted for a shift in angle and i ran upstairs to a balcony. i directed the talent to stand on top of the man-hole cover. i liked the simple yellow line and texture of the pavement.
NAK_6163

models jamie & rick, with focus on bokeh and simple details:
NAK_6243_2
NAK_6221

offering context to a place can serve as a creative ingredient for backgrounds. however, placelessness images can be just as fun, too!
NAK_6246

at the end of the shoot, while walking back to the hotel, i engaged in a conversation with jamie. she was interested in trying out an idea inspired by john michael cooper (father of the trash the dress phenomenon) inspired by that shot we all know by henri cartier-bresson (father of the modern photojournalism) of a man jumping over a puddle (“behind the gare saint-lazare”). here’s my set-up:
NAK_6259

even in 1932, photographs of puddle jumpers were cliche. in 2008, this was no decision moment... just a lucky, fun, moment.
NAK_6276_2

a portrait of jesh de rox:
NAK_6124_2

jesh’s words will stay with me for a long time. we spoke about the joy & elation of achieving a difficult goal and the process of intentionally creating the exact same feeling of elation to other aspects of life. my next workshop will be with spent him.

on the last night, we marched through the streets in a big easy tradition with a second line brass band parade:
NAK_6309NAK_6305_2

joe photo has as much energy & enthusiasm as a classroom of second-graders and he’s been shooting weddings for over a decade! talk about avoiding burn-out... on a night off, he still parties with a camera in hand!
NAK_6300

dixie trannie shot at 3:30am, iso 6400, f/ 1.4. hmmm... creative portrait?
NAK_6370

the inaugural photographer hand-wrestling competition took place bourbon street. the rules are simple. winner takes all. who cares about winning... it is all about the fun!
NAK_6393
joe photo: 1. kern-photo: 0. and to think he’s got a decade up on me. now that’s inspiration! seriously, people, whatever happened to the testoserone-driven sport of arm wrestling? round II: wppi 2008?

part of the wonderful experience included meeting some awesome people like photographer jan garcia, our cabbie extraordinaire, photographer jeffrey neal.
NAK_6400