All too often we work for something we can’t see, but pray the results are somewhere on a foggy horizon.
Like chopping firewood, washing a car, or mowing a lawn, we love seeing the instant fruits of our labor. However, what happens, after years and years of work, there’s not much to see?
We have two options:
- Give up and resign to the fact that it isn’t worth doing.
- Knuckle down & stay focused, knowing the results will be worth it.
Take high school chemistry class, for example. Some of us arrived at the correct answer, second-nature. Some interpreted the funky mole symbols divided by delta stuff and manage (I’m proud of my “B” in college chem 102). And some quit. Like having a baby, loosing weight, or growing a creative business, the process is much sweeter if you can see it, feel it, measure it, and share it. And there are those who had to work extra hard and persevere, years later see the fringe on the horizon. “God, give me patience now!” we pray.
Deep inside, we all rest easy that good things do come to those who wait. Things money can not buy, but efforts which put us closer to genuine happiness, builds strength and discipline, and leads us more to a fulfilling life. The benefits of delayed gratification are many. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that the cliche runs true.
But when you study for months and months for what seems like the most difficult test in your life, waiting for the results tests nervous of anxiety. Anticipating the results might look something like this: 
But the reward is bliss when you arrive on the other side!!!
When you find out the great news, it’s off to celebrate! Here’s what 1,000 words of happiness with frozen yogurt looks like: 
If we look like we are 11th grade, it’s because we both feel that way! I am so proud of Krista!!! I also think we found the fountain of youth… which lies somewhere between the local frozen yogurt stand and an Polaroid moment. It’s nice to cherish something in our hand, a tangible memory not necessarily for the final product but for the laborious process to arrive at that destination.
Photographers, do you dream for analog simplicity with instant gratification? My solution on the cheap, a pair of Instax cameras VERY cute together, because sometimes one good thing needs a match: 
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Posted by R. J. on January 18, 2012
90. Enter a WPPI Print Contest.
I almost checked this goal off my 101 in 1001 list last year.
Turns out, my prints I sent via UPS and never made it to the Awards of Excellence 16 x 20 Print Competition at Wedding & Portrait Photographers International Convention (WPPI). UPS sent an insurance check to cover the costs and WPPI refunded my $140 entrance fees. I was thankful for this, but they still never got judged which is what I was really hoping for. I detailed the account in last year’s blog post, There’s always next year.
Well, that next year is now.
***UPDATE***
In November, I got a call from WPPI. The prints arrived at their doorstep, 10 months late! WPPI was kind enough to ship them back to me in perfect condition without charge. Thank you, WPPI !!!!
Steady persistence pays off, I tell myself. I made the effort the first time and it didn’t work out. I’ll do it again.
Today, I re-submitted these two prints in this year’s WPPI Awards of Excellence 16 x 20 Print Competition in the Premier category (my first time entering): 
Insured and guaranteed to arrive by January 9, 2012, my mounted metallic prints are packaged in a Fiberbilt P50 Print Shipping Case and ready to journey back to WPPI. 
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Posted by R. J. on January 9, 2012
The Interwebs are happy about the Nikon D4 announcement, but I’d date a Pentax 645D before a D4.
You see, the D4 is the prom queen, albeit not the top of her class, she starves for attention. She’s like a machine gun with infrared goggles that can shoot accurately in super-low light scenarios.
On the other hand, a medium format (MF) digital camera like the Pentax 645D, has understated status, a strong build, and knows quality takes sacrifice in features. And likes fine art.
The Nikon D4 dates soldiers. MF cameras like artists.
General Observations on shooting MF :
- I dig rich dynamic range files… something difficult to get with a D3 / D700 sans HDR post production or flash. Medium format has what I want.
- While I love shooting with shallow depth of field, I also shoot at f/16. Diffraction at f/16 isn’t as much an issue with medium format as it is with 35mm.
- Increased image sharpness due to no anti-aliasing filter. My buddy, Otto Schulze, loves this feature on his Leica M9.
- I much prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio of Mamiya and Hasselblad over the 3:2 aspect ratio of 25mm and the Leica S2, especially for printing and framing.
- You have to really slow down, focus, and think cause it costs $2 a shot with film or $$$$ with digital MF.
- Drum scans are VERY expensive and really the only way to get the quality of the medium on paper. Digital MF is the future.
Sure, there’s nothing like shooting medium format film, like this portrait of my buddy, Danny, on our first day this season at Beaver Creek, CO (Mamiya 645 / 80mm f/1.9 / Portra film scan by RPL). Love the clarity!
Looking Forward
Lightpainting with MF digital is ultimately where I want to head this year with fine-art portraits, weddings, Burning Man, and personal work in the landscapes I run across.
When a new camera has been introduced, I like to stay away from the hype until the buzz has settled, kinks have been worked out and the results are conclusive. I’m not a fan of temptation and I loathe buyer’s remorse. I test drive only when I am really serious.
“The grass is greener on the other side of the fence?” You know why? It’s because you don’t see the dirt.
Which is why I still shoot with dual Nikon D700 cameras, which I love. In fact, my buddy James Christianson observed the Nikon D700 has better auto-white balance than the 24MP, $7500 Nikon D3x. I find myself looking carefully to the future.
Pentax 645D Hands-On review
Last week in Denver, I met up with Pentax 645D Product Specialist, Mark Davis, who welcomed me into the Pentax headquarters. He shared with me the Pentax 645D, which was an incredible experience considering you can’t just pick one of these up at your local camera store. I was very appreciative of Mark’s time and wanted to make the best of the situation as it would apply to a ‘normal’ shooting situations in sterile in-door conditions, harsh overhead light, and not much beauty to behold. This corporate boardroom fit the bill, as shot with my iPhone: 
But does digital have the same look and feel? It was up to me to prove it to myself. With Tim Gunn in the back of my mind, I ‘made it work’. Shot in a conference room on the 26th floor of a Denver office building, my iPhone served as the primary light source for these abstract light paintings with a Pentax 645D and 55mm f2.8 lens: 
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Posted by R. J. on January 8, 2012
I do love shooting medium format… the shallow depth of field, the ergonomics, the dynamic range, and the entire shooting experience. I’ve photographed the Hauptman family the last 5 years and this year we decided to head to Breckenridge, Colorado for family photos. This portrait will be hanging in their home next week and will look timeless even in 20 years.
Mamiya 645 AF / 80mm f/1.9 / Kodak Portra 400 / RPL Scan
Posted by R. J. on January 6, 2012
I’m giddy to introduce, Alan Warner, the creative and marketing guru at Trion Promotion. I’ve know Alan for many years and he’s become a dear friend and marketing force behind kern-photo for the last four years. He attends marketing conferences and tradeshows to keep his skills sharp, is an avid runner, and loves reading the newspaper almost as much as his affinity for Apple products. Alan was my creative force behind much of my marketing efforts for the past 4 years. We worked together at National Geographic Maps and I am always impressed how hard he works and appreciate his tenacity for branding consistency.
Mamiya 645 AF / 80mm f/1.9 / Kodak Portra 400 / RPL Scan
Alan was very helpful in guiding me in creating my branding tools for marketing arsenal, which I share 22 of them here. He agreed to help share his enthusiasm with marketing with this installment of Ask the Expert. I hope you enjoy!
1. Alan, if you were to write the book “Everything I Learned About Marketing, I Learned in Kindergarten”, describe key 5 points.
- Be authentic, who you truly are. Nothing replaces be genuine.
- Carry business cards with you at all times.
- Don’t try to be an expert in all things. Stay focused on what you do best and like.
- Build strong relationships with clients and vendors.
- Be of value to others, often at no cost. Much like what RJ does.
2. Describe the best thank you’s or gifts you can extend to current clients to make them ‘happy’?
It may sound simplistic and trite but at least send a heartfelt card of thanks and appreciation. This is so overlooked in our busy world today. It has the power to disrupt the daily flow with a much greater impact than a thank you email. Those too are better than forgetting to acknowledge the appreciation.
3. What are your best advice for photographers to extend “word of mouth” referrals?
Keep in touch with those you’ve done work. Connect with then periodically so you are top-of-mind. Send them a postcard of recent work or surprise them with a simple custom gift using image(s) you shot.
4. Are business cards still relevant? Why?
Absolutely! See #1. Think about how people will easily remember, contact you and see your portfolio. This is the cheapest and easiest way to get your business in their hands. Craft something that is engaging and with ALL your information. Make it a brochure card and it is likely to be kept and shared if very cool.
5. In three sentences, what’s the importance of marketing and branding?
Marketing and branding allows people to know who you are and why you are relevant to them. Without effective branding your business will not be memorable or standout from the crowd to get customer’s attention. Even if you have a great a brand/identity without marketing (getting the word out) you will be challenged to get the business you want simply because they won’t know to consider you.
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Posted by R. J. on January 6, 2012
