Steve’s Christmas Trees. San Carlos, CA © Jay Watson Photography
Notice the monogrammed port-a-potty. This should keep me occupied for a few days. At this time of year, writing about photography feels very unimportant, but planning goals for 2009 and putting the current year in perspective is a healthy mindset to offset the hectic holiday season. Here are some quick thoughts about the past year. Read the rest of this entry »
Derrick going frontside at Pacifica Skatepark. © Jay Watson Photography
One responsibility in being a photographer involves teaching other photographers. This occurs through either working with assistants, or actually working as an instructor. Like kung-fu, any photographer worth their own salt has both learned from another photographer and mentored other photographers. Since 2002 I have been an adjunct photography instructor and I have taught classes ranging from photo history, advertising photography, digital capture, and the zone system. At the end of each semester I share advice to students from a lecture titled…”Important Things To Learn That Have Nothing To Do With A Camera.”
Gary Maxworthy of the SF Food Bank. © Jay Watson Photography
It was Gary Maxworthy who single handedly brought fresh vegetables and fruit to the SF Food Bank and into the California Food Bank system. This one man is responsible for bringing fresh healthy food to over 600 community food programs. See the short interview for more info. Read the rest of this entry »
Last week I was a guest speaker at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. A few former Brooks students have contacted me about assisting, and after speaking with Eli Davis at Career Services, I was invited to present some of my work to students and talk about my experiences in the photo industry. Not only did I speak about the photo business, but I was also able to get some information from them. Here is some of the info we talked about.
I learned (3) things from Brooks and AAU students (classes started two weeks ago)
1) Roughly 80% are on FaceBook and/or other social networking sites. No surprise there.
2) Less than 5% of them follow any blog. Many students do not know what is a blog, or assumed a blog they visited was in fact just a website. They are not reliant upon industry related blogs for news or info.
3) Less than 2% know what is a an RSS feed.
Another anxious young photographer is up and coming.
Keep your eye out for Justin Nambiar.
Portrait of Justin Nambiar. © Jay Watson Photography
The identity of AYMIAH is a former student, intern, and assistant of mine named Justin Nambiar. This week marks a pivotal moment in Justin’s life. He is moving to New York to assist fashion photographers, and to start the next phase of his career. J Nam is super motivated and does not waste an opportunity (or a meal). No doubt his professionalism and dedication will take him far. When I see a kid like this go it inspires me, because everything in the photo industry is up in the air right now. Read the rest of this entry »
Paul Newman on the set of the 1956 boxing film Somebody Up There Likes Me. Photo by Sanford Roth / AMPAS – © 1978 Sanford Roth
Joe Reifer just punched me in the face here! Gee thanks. I think. Was this our (all photographers) wake up call, or is it just me who feels personally challenged to be a super duper witch doctor with good photographic intentions?
Don’t bother boxing with JR when it comes to names. Dude is a file cabinet of info and has more retentive value than Wikipedia. He has more lives than Felix the Cat and is more productive than Martha Stewart on speed while listening to The Exploited. He already forced me into doing 3 searches from his post.
Since I feel completely steamrolled after reading this post, I need time to respond properly and I also need to find the right medium, forum, words, content, and imagery to do so. However, the reaction I will give first is this….. Read the rest of this entry »
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