Three From Tribeca In Deerfield

They had a look of beauty worthy of a tourist site featuring butterflies. But dressed in black, they reaked of NYC. Tourists sometimes ask to have their pictures taken. I shot mine and theirs, though because they needed to move on with their shoot, time was of the essence; not even enough space to grab my reflector.

I gave a card. Told them I went to Hallmark which they never heard of. Asked what they were doing here, “we are on a shoot; we blog.” Too bad, because I could use them as models for one of my assignments. They looked gorgeous, if you know what I mean, and I don’t have all that much experience with glam, style or big city attitude.

One said they would be back. She asked if I would send her a file if I took a seminal photo; hard to do under pressure.

Just straight photography, dudes. I be ready when you come back. Have you ever been to Turners Falls?

 

Matthew Cavenaugh at Hallmark Institute of Photography

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More than just portrait, wedding and editorial promoted at Hallmark. Matt came to talk about photojournalism. Admitting he doesn’t know all the tricks, he offered that the skills Hallmark develops would make a shooter capable of working a news assignment. “You cannot be a jerk; you have to be on time; and you have to get the shot (sometimes differently than all the others).

Self-made and self taught, he earned a place in the White House Press Corps. Sometimes, though he arrived mostly on time, he got a place that let him make s shot few others saw. Lots of opportunities at stages ringed by flags and private engagements where he lacked access didn’t dissuade him. But a need to build a family in an area where he was more in control and had easier access to family to do child care brought him back to the Greenfield/Turners Falls area. Lots to say for quality of life.

So, he lives in the area and does freelance for AP, NYT, Boston Globe and some international wire services. Money comes from the bread and butter wedding shoots and who knows what else. Knowing the strains that war correspondents and those chronicling environmental and health issues can bring, it is unlikely he will hit the road and leave his family. He has control of his life, a position devoutely to be wished, but who knows for how long he will work the local beat and whom he will help or whom he will become.

NYT has an image of a photo op in the oval office, an event that Matt no longer attends. Not a lot of time to think about your shots or distinguish yourself, nor a lot of opportunity to witness an unscripted event. After all, they just sit and smile.

 

Jack Reznicki at Hallmark

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Jack Reznicki came to Hallmark to lecture on the business of photogaphy. After distibuting a “Photographer’s Survival Manual,” he talked about the photographer’s responsibility to his craft: respect the rights of others, keep good records and don’t give away your work. To survive and thrive, you have to register your work and send out accurate, detailed invoices, promptly. I ain’t pushing the text for him, but after a quick read I can say it provides a useful guide for protecting the photographer/artist in the digital age.

Greg Heisler and Richard Avedon

So, we shot against the wall and then we put up a piece of seamless. Two people held Greg’s black overcoat and jacket. A reflector was added. I didn’t shoot fast enough to get the same shot, but you could see the sculpting on the side of Andrew’s face. The class returned to the classroom to look at American Masters does Richard Avedon

Bill Diodato and Max the Studio Mgr at Hallmark Institute of Photography

Commercial photographer, Bill Diodato and his studio manager, Max, lectured at Hallmark Institute of Photography. Bill also signed his book, Care of Ward 81, which came with a gift box of images he had distributed to select clients as a business promotion. Both be HIP graduates.

Hard to sit through five hours of looking at his images, as compelling and creative as they were; even he had to say he was  tired of showing. But listening to his rap that mixed the craft and business of commercial photography made the presentation overwhelminly rewarding. He brings sharp wit and sharp focus to every job. After more than 20 years on the job, he has little left to prove about his skills, so he is trying to turn out more images that reflect his art, as opposed to his client’s tastes and desires. His is a route to which we all aspire.

Max works way too hard, 80 or so hours a week and doesn’t shoot at all. But to most students at Hallmark, that doesn’t seem too steep a price to pay for the experience needed to take the lessons learned to a more professional and saleable level. While Bill doesn’t seem to like the work for free concept that interns in many fields have to endure these days, the pay for assistants ain’t that good. You can barely put food on the table and pay expenses. Time to move on dude, just like the boss did and see if your eye behind the lens making pictures is as good as your eye in the monitor fixing them.

Northampton MA

He remembered me from a street shoot. I didn’t recognize hem. Sort of put me off guard, so I didn’t inquire how he got to Northampton. I be better known in the street, than in the studio.

He didn’t usually like to have his image shot. But liked my style. Used to hang out near Harvard Square. Visited art galleries. Likes collages.

Got kicked out of a wet shelter the night before for getting in an argument. “Been on the streets for 24 years…. You go to those places and they got druggies, junkies and drunks. How you not going to have an argument?”